Sarcophagus of Santa Claus possibly discovered in Turkish church: report

Just in the Nick of time.

Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered a sarcophagus that they believe could belong to Saint Nicholas — the generous Christian holy man who inspired Santa Claus.

Researchers discovered the sarcophagus in the heart of the 7th century church built to honor jolly old Saint Nick, who was a 4th century bishop in the Mediterranean city of Myra prior to his move to the North Pole.

The limestone sarcophagus measures 6-feet long and about 5-feet in depth, has a pitched lid, and was buried about 6-feet underground, Heritage Daily reports. 

“Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus. This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates from,” said Ebru Fatma Findik of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University.

More details are expected to emerge as the dig continues, according to the archaeologists with Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The saint was buried at the church where he administered his ministry in the Greek port city of Myra in Asia Minor.

Hundreds of years after his death, he gained popularity, and Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II constructed a grand church in his honor at the same site.

Saint Nicholas’ bones were thought to have been in Venice since after the First Crusade which began in 1096.

They were supposedly taken from a church in Bari, Italy, after they were moved from Myra at an unspecified time, according to Heritage Daily.

A 1953 inspection of the bones that were found in Bari and in Venice confirmed that they were from the same individual, but it is not clear whether that person is Saint Nicholas, Heritage Daily reports.

St. Nicholas reigned as bishop of Myra, in present-day Turkish province of Antalya, in the 4th century and was buried in the church where he led his ministry.

Nicholas was said to be a gift-giver and is the patron saint of children, merchants, and repentant thieves.