Atlas from Space: Satellite View of St. Nicholas Church, Demre, Turkey

The Church of St. Nicholas, first built in the sixth century and reconstructed again and again from the eighth century onward. It is currently undergoing restoration. Excavations at the church have been underway off and on since 1963.

Nicholas himself was born in nearby Patara in the year 270. He became bishop of Myra and died in either 345 or 352. He participated in the Council of Nicea, opposing the Arians.

Want to go deeper?

The following are recommended to help you look deeper into the history and archaeology of Myra.

Recommended for purchase:

Claude E. Fant & Mitchell G. Reddish – A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey (Oxford, 2003). – Nearly two-thirds of the New Testament, including all the letters of Paul, most of Acts, and the Book of Revelation, are set in either Turkey or Greece. This book serves as a historical, biblical, and archaeological guide to most of these biblical sites. View excerpt

George Bean – Lycian Turkey Classic Guides to Turkey (London: John Murray, 1989).

Frank Sear – Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. (Oxford, 2006). – Sear discusses Myra's theater and includes a plan (Plan 389, Pl. 128).on pp. 346-347.

Ekrem Akurgal – Ancient Civilizations and Ruins of Turkey: From Prehistoric Times Until the End of the Roman Empire (Haset Kirabevi, 1985). | cheaper, earlier edition – Akurgal was the archaeologist in charge of the excavation of the original Smyrna at Bayrakli.

Online resources:

Christine Eslik, PhD – Recent & current excavations at St. Nicholas Church and Andriakē

ANMED – Excavations at St. Nicholas Church – Frescoes (ANMED issue 2004-02). | "Excavations at Church of St. Nicholas in Myra-Demre" (ANMED issue 2006-04). | "Surveys in Andriake in 2005" (ANMED issue 2006-15).

Patty & Kemal Safyurek – Myra. See also their related site on Lycia, which is one of the most thorough and helpful available, including Lycian history, archaeology, photos, and much more.

Charles Fellows – An Account of Discoveries in Lycia (London: John Murray, 1840). Discusses Myra on pp. 196ff.

Lynn Levine – "Demre" in Frommer's Turkey 4th ed. (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley& Sons, 2006). 298-302 (299-301 unavailable online).

Luc Wouters – Photos of Myra.

Virtual tour (360° photos) – Frontal view of theater | View from orchestra | View from near top | Cliff tombs behind theater | Sarcophagus of St. Nicholas

Wikipedia – Myra | Demre

Andrys Basten – St. Nicholas Church (photo gallery)

Burak Sansal – Demre & Myra | St. Nicholas of Myra | Lycia and the Lycians – Sansal is a Turkish professional tour guide.