ANKARA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Archeologists in Turkey believe they may have found the tomb of Saint Nicholas, known popularly as Santa Claus, under an ancient church in southeastern Antalya province of Turkey.
Researchers discovered an intact temple and burial grounds below the church of Saint Nicholas during radar scans in the Demre district, known to be the reverend Christian Saint's birthplace.
Cemil Karabayram, the Head Of Antalya's Monument Authority, told the Turkish press that the shrine was discovered by electronic subsystem that showed gaps beneath the church.
"We believe this shrine has not been damaged at all, but it is quite difficult to get to it as there are mosaics on the floor," Karabayram told local media.
In the excavation process, archaeologists will have to loosen each tile from the mosaics and remove them together in a mold which will be a difficult task and take months. Archeological excavations have been taking place there for 20 years already.
The claims over the 1,674-year-old remains of Saint Nicholas would compete with different narratives that the saint's relics were placed in as far as Italy and Ireland.
At the time of his death in 343 A.D., Saint Nicholas was interred at the Church in Demre, formerly known as Myra, where he lay undisturbed until the 11th century.
Then, according to different accounts from Italy at the time, his remains were taken during the crusades to either Venice or Bari, Italy. Another story, less widely believed, places the bones in an abandoned churchyard in southern Ireland after they were brought there by French knights.
Most Catholic and Orthodox Christians accept that the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, Italy, is the final resting place of Santa Claus's remains.
However, Turkish experts are now claiming the bones were removed and those taken abroad belong to an anonymous priest. Karabayram has said he is very optimistic about uncovering Saint Nicholas's remains.
He explained researchers from eight different fields of study were involved in the process of uncovering the grave.
Santa Claus morphed from the third and fourth-century Asia Minor bishop Saint Nicholas to the generous figure, in particular to children, associated with the Christian holiday of Christmas.
"We have obtained very good results but the real work starts now. We will reach the ground and maybe we will find the untouched body of Saint Nicholas," added Karabayram.
According to legend, both of his parents died when he was young and Nicholas used his inheritance to serve the sick and the poor. He eventually became the bishop of the city Myra. He was also known for leaving coins in the shoes of the poor.
The saint became popularized in 16th century Europe when he became Father Christmas, known for giving presents to young children.
In 2013, the Turkey-based Santa Claus Peace Council wrote to Pope Francis to request the return of at least some of the icon's bones to his homeland, but this finding could render this request obsolete.
If this claim is confirmed during further excavations, it will unmistakably have a big momentum on the region's tourism.
Besides it's ancient vestiges, Antalya is dubbed the "Turkish Riviera" for its many hotels. It is blessed with an ideal climate and it's combination of ancient history and modern Turkish culture. Millions of foreign tourists flock to the region each year.
