The figure of Santa Claus has roots in the history of one of the most venerated saints of the East, Saint Nicholas of Myra? This saint (represented in the first photo) is loved especially in Eastern Europe and throughout Puglia, where his cult has taken deep root.
St. Nicholas was known for his generosity and his protective spirit towards the weakest, qualities that made him the model for the legend of Santa Claus. The name Santa Claus, in fact, derives from the Dutch transposition of Saint Nicholas, transformed into Sinterklaas. This term, brought to the United States by Dutch immigrants, has evolved to identify the modern Santa Claus, the friendly old man who every year brings gifts to children all over the world.
Saint Nicholas of Bari: A Saint Between East and West
Saint Nicholas was a bishop of the city of Myra, in present-day Turkey, and a staunch defender of Christian orthodoxy. His fame spread rapidly from Asia Minor to the Slavic and Byzantine worlds, even reaching Southern Italy, which at the time was under the influence of Byzantium.
After the Muslim conquest of Myra, his relics were brought to Bari in 1087 by sixty-two sailors from Bari, to be kept in the Apulian city. In 1089, the relics were placed in the crypt of the Basilica of San Nicola, consecrated by Pope Urban II. From that time, the saint was also known as St. Nicholas of Bari, becoming the patron saint of the city and a point of reference for the entire Puglia.
The Necropolis of San Nicola di Myra in Vieste
Vieste also holds a place linked to this great saint: the Necropolis of St. Nicholas of Myra, an archaeological site of great historical and cultural value. Located in Pantanello district, near the beach of San Lorenzo, this complex is an extraordinary example of early Christian rock settlement.
The images illustrating the Vieste necropolis are by Dr. Leonardo Pagano, whom we thank for his kind concession.
The heart of the site is a rock church, once decorated with frescoes, used for the preparation of the bodies before burial. The name "San Nicola" was probably attributed thanks to the Basilian monks who arrived on the Gargano in the 8th century AD, bringing with them the cult of the saint during their migrations from the Eastern Roman Empire.
The necropolis thus became a place of devotion and burial, frequented by local Christian communities. This phenomenon is found in many areas of Southern Italy, such as Puglia, Calabria and Sicily, where numerous rock churches are dedicated to San Nicola, a sign of the strong influence of Byzantine monks.
Today, unfortunately, the Necropolis of St. Nicholas of Myra is in a state of abandonment. This place, which unites different historical eras – from the Greco-Roman Daunia to the Christian Middle Ages – deserves to be rediscovered and valorized.
The recent initiatives to restore other symbolic places of Vieste, such as the Santuario del Faro, give hope that this necropolis can also be included in protection and enhancement projects. We hope that it can soon be visited again, allowing residents and tourists to rediscover a fundamental part of our history.