• St Nicholas in the Ukraine

• St Nicholas is the most important Russian Orthodox Saint.

Santa ClausSint-NicolaasSinterklaas

St Nicholas, the patron saint of Russian merchants.

• Fresco by Dionisius from the Ferapontov Monastery, 1398 in Vologda, North-eastern Russia

Russian sculptor Gregory Pototsky

• Donated by the Russian government in 2000, had a prominent place on the square in front of the medieval church of St. Nicholas.

• City of Demre, Turkey is built on the ruins of ancient Myra.

Protests from the Russian government against the

disgrace were only successful to the extent that the Russian statue

returned, without its original high pedestal, in a corner

near the church.

In 2005, mayor Suleyman Topcu had the statue replaced by a red-suited plastic

Santa Claus statue, because he wanted the central statue to be more familiar to

visitors from all over the world.

Noel Baba at the

square in front of the

church.

Was built in the 6th century. Restored in 8th centuryMonastery added in 11th century• In 1863 Czar Alexander 2 of Russia

bought the building and started to have it restored, but the work was never finished.

• In 1963 the eastern and southern sides of the church was excavated,

• 1968 the former burial of St. Nicholas was roofed over.

• His bones were stolen in 1087 by merchants from Bari, Italy now held in the cathedral of that city.