M Y R A

Myra and St. Nicholas' Church are both situated 5 km inland and you will have to take a minibus for the 1/2 day). Although the date of Myra's first foundation is not known, the Lycian inscriptions found in the area it would appear that it was inhabitated in the 5th century. Strabo counts it among the six notable cities of Lycia. In the year 18 AD, the emperor Germanicus and his wife Agrippina visited Myra, and in honor of this visit, the statues of both the emperor and empress were erected in the harbor of the city, Andriache. In the early years of Christianity in 60 AD, St Paul met with his followers here on their way to Rome. During the 2nd century AD Myra became a center of the diocese, and it was during that period that its theater was built. The theater and its portico were constructed by Licinus Lanfus of Oinoanda, to whom 10,000 dinars were given for its completion. The renowned Opramoas of Rhodiapolis, whose hand of patronage is to be seen in all the cities of Lycia, did not ignore this city, donating great sums to its development. Another notable patron was Jason of Kyaenai, through whose efforts the city was adorned with many great buildings. During the Byzantine Period, Myra kept its role as a religious center. During the 4th century AD, St Nicholas, later to be known as Santa Claus, was bishop of Myra. His tomb and a church dedicated to him are to be found here.
The acropolis of the city is on top of the cliffs containing the Lycian rock tombs. The city walls, dating from the Hellenistic and Roman Periods are protecting the acropolis. The rock tombs cover the southern cliffs below the acropolis. Other tombs can be seen on the river banks and in the surrounding cliffs. Another tomb with reliefs on the northern face of the rock has been cut in the form of a large sarcophagus. The owner of the tomb is seen buried here together with his family. The reliefs show him first in his prime and later as a corpse laid out with his family around him. The tomb is dated to the 4th century BC. To see the tombs more closely and in order to examine them in detail, you can climb up to them via a flight of steps belonging to the theater. The most interesting tomb in the necropolis has a façade shaped like that of a temple. The façade contains two flanking Ionian columns with floriate capitals containing lion heads. The architrave frieze contains a realistic relief of a lion attacking a bull.
The theater is situated close to the rock tombs. The cavea has been carved into a slope out of the rock. The galleries were supported at the sides with vaulting that was used both for access to the upper galleries and also contained shops. Below the diazoma were 29 rows of seats, and below them, 6 rows more. It would appear that the façade facing the audience was extremely ornate.
St. Nicholas Church, named after St. Nicholas - the infamous Santa Claus - was from Patara, and took office in Myra as the Bishop in the 4th century AD and was buried in this Church when he died. The town of Myra and the Church were demolished during the Arabian raids in the 7th and 9th centuries, and were totally destroyed in the naval raid made again by the Arabs in 1034: Constantine Monomakhos IX and Zoe the empress had made the Church reconstructed and also surrounded by walls. In 1087, merchants coming from Bari had stolen the bones from the church which were supposed to be belonging to St. Nicholas. This Church is the one built in the 9th century and restored several times. It is understood that the tombs belonging to the 2nd century AD were used again in the lower storey of the Church.
You can see the frescoes situated on the abscissa and the naves of the Church. Furthermore, the sitting places and columns reflect their restored appearances. You can reach the upper storey of the Church by using the stairs located at the side. The Church was subjected to another restoration in recent past, and a statue of St. Nicholas was erected near it. I heard or read somewhere that St. Paul actually posed for the frescoe of the 'Last Supper' in the nave of the church.
I also heard many stories about the tomb of St. Nicolas. I heard that St. Nicolas was laid to rest in the ornate tomb there, but that some Italian relic pirates from Bari Italy stole his body and cut the head from the tomb. On the other hand I have read that this ornate tomb was not really his tomb at all - his tomb is the plain one next to it. At this point, I just don't know what to tell you. As soon as I find out, I will let you know. If you find something out - please let us know.