St. Nicholas: Fact or Fiction?

December 6 is St. Nicholas Day, but what do we really know about the historical St. Nicholas, and how did he become “Santa Claus”? We will view photos of the physical remains of the church at Myra in Turkey, where Nicholas served as bishop until his death in 326 CE, and marvel at the beautiful frescoes illustrating the main events of his life. Learn about another church dedicated to St. Nicholas on the aptly named “St. Nicholas Island,” not far from Myra. Here, archaeologists believe, St. Nicholas was originally buried before his bones were removed to Myra and eventually “rescued” by sailors and taken to Bari, Italy, where they remain today in the crypt of the St. Nicholas Church in that city.