4 replies to this topic

[Abi]

Byzantine church, Dereağzı, St Nicholas statue, Demre (inset picture)

It is hard to believe that the small, scruffy agricultural town of Demre, boxed in by an untidy maze of greenhouses devoted to the cultivation of Turkish culinary staples such as aubergines, peppers and tomatoes, was one of the most important cities on Turkeysouthwest Mediterranean shore in ancient times.

Visitors today come here for two main reasons. The first is to see the site of Myra, famed for its well preserved Roman-era theater and the superbly crafted Lycian rock tombs in the cliff behind. The second reason is to visit a Byzantine-period church dedicated to a former bishop of the town, St. Nicholas, believed to have been the real-life inspiration for the mythical Santa Claus...........

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-266982-a-tale-of-two-churches-and-santa-claus-demre-and-dereagzi.html

[sunny]

Santa would come through door if he were decent, mufti says


http://www.hurriyetd..._RTmAI.facebook


Directorate launches probe into anti-Santa cleric


http://www.hurriyetd...6&NewsCatID=393

[Abi]

Soooooo Father Christmas isn't real after all , Seriously though what a miserable man, I like the comments after the article on the first link, made me laugh.

[Meral]

i liked the article & comments too. Poor old Süleyman Hoca -- he needs a bit of cheer to lighten up his life ! And it's true those traditions he speaks of do not originate in Christianity at all but date back to pagan traditions. He also needs to study up on this more, before making such publicized pronouncements. Happy New Year Hocam !

[Vic801]

Thank you Sunny, those links (and comments) did make me laugh!