Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas is believed to have lived in the 4th century and there is general concurrence that he was the Bishop of Myre. There are few details in writing about this iconic figure though he has come to be a statement of history even until today. His actions have made him a patriarch in Greece, Russia, and of Christmas itself.
Saint Nicholas
However, his good deeds were probably seen as a threat in the eyes of Emperor Diocletian, who had him persecuted and thrown in prison. This act was done during a time when there was terrible persecution of Christians. However, he was released under the rule of Emperor Constantine, who was on a mission to get Rome to join the Christian movement. His freedom came with a positive note as he used his time to help needy children, orphans, and young women who were being sold as slaves.
Santa Claus, Maybe?
Because he was so loving to especially the young ones, Saint Nicholas was the early version of Santa Claus because stories tell of him throwing gifts out at Christmas time to bring the cheers of joy and giving to all. Saint Nicholas died, and his remains were buried in Myre, and a church was erected in his memory. But during the Ottoman invasions, some 200 years after his death, a group of Italians excavated most of his skeleton, in 1087, and brought it to Bari. The San Basilica was enshrined in the 11th century, and Saint Nicholas’s body remains there to this day.
Santa
Luckily enough for researcher Dr. Caroline Wilkinson, she was able to create a 3-D portrait as this body was efficiently well-preserved. The final image portrayed a brown skin tone, which is normal for someone of Greek descent from what is today modern-day Turkey. There is also an obvious default on his face (deviated septum), which was a result of improper healing of a broken nose.
