The ancient city of Demre Mira can truly be called the pearl of Turkey. This unique area, which has preserved the great buildings of antiquity and reflects the rich history of the country, is undoubtedly popular among travelers. In addition, the most valuable Christian monument is located here - the Church of St. Nicholas. Therefore, if you are going on holiday to Turkey, be sure to add Demre Mira to your list of must-see attractions. Well, what kind of city is this and how to get to it, the information from our article will tell you.
City `s history
According to records in the chronicles, it is assumed that the city appeared in the fifth century, although the exact date is unknown. It was not far from Mir, according to legend, near the Andrak (Andriake) River that the meeting of the Apostle Peter and his followers took place on the way to Rome.
From the second century the city became a diocesan center. The Lycian worlds are part of the confederation of ancient Lycia. The city, located near the sea, has many attractions.
On the map of Turkey, the Mirliki settlement is located near the modern town of Demre. The name “worlds” comes, according to one version, from incense.
Another word sounds like Maura. After numerous sound transformations, the sound was shortened to "miras". As a large city, Myra became the Lycian capital from the reign of Theodosius II and acquired the right to mint its own coins.
Due to constant looting and flooding by the river, the city began to decline. The population moved to a safer place, located a few kilometers from the old World.
General information
The small town of Demre with an area of 471 square meters. km is located in southwest Turkey. It is located 150 km from Antalya and 157 km from Fethiye. The population of Demre does not exceed 26 thousand people. Its distance from the Mediterranean coast is 5 km. Until 2005, this city was called Calais, but today it is often called Mira, which is not entirely true. After all, Mira is an ancient city (or rather ruins), which is located not far from Demre.
Today Demre in Turkey is a modern tourist resort, where people come primarily for history and knowledge, and not for a beach holiday, although travelers are quite able to combine these two activities. Like the entire Mediterranean coast, this area is characterized by a warm climate, in which summer temperatures vary between 30-40 °C.
The Demre region is a unique combination of traces of ancient civilization, breathtaking mountain landscapes and azure sea waters.
Its pearl was the ancient Myra, where during the high season numerous excursion buses arrive daily, collecting tourists from all over the resort of Turkey.
City of St. Nicholas
Since 300, Nikolai Ugodnik became the bishop of Myra. He served in the city until his death in 325.
According to legend, the oldest representative of the local community had a vision that the first person to come to the temple would become a bishop. This man's name is Nikolai.
That morning the saint was the first to cross the threshold. After the death of the presbyter, Myra of Lycia was recognized as a saint.
God glorified his name with miraculous phenomena. There is often a huge queue to the tomb of Nicholas, which is located in the temple of the same name.
It is explained by the fact that those who arrive in the city make wishes, remaining for a long time near the relics. At the same time, according to Orthodox traditions, it is not customary to stand for a long time and detain others.
It is enough to bow and ask the saint for mental intercession.
Links
- Media files on Wikimedia Commons
- Saint Nicholas, wonderworker
- Virtual tour of Myra and Lycian Tombs
- Mira // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
- The display of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker has been banned in Antalya
| Ancient cities of Lycia (from west to east) | |
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Attractions
The city preserves the ruins of an ancient theater and ancient tombs carved into the rocks. Their uniqueness lies in their location: they are all on a noticeable hill, according to the traditions of the population of Lycia.
In this way, the dead were given the opportunity to quickly get to heaven. All the buildings are decorated with amazing, spectacular reliefs. Many tombs are decorated with elaborate canopies. From the bas-reliefs you can find out what craft the buried person was engaged in.
In May 1087, the relics of the holy shepherd, kept in the temple, were secretly transported to Bari. In the new place, the Miracle Worker of Myra was declared a heavenly patron.
On the territory of ancient Myra, after the relics were moved to Italy, a marble sarcophagus remained in the Myra Temple. The church building also suffered repeatedly from enemy attacks.
It was especially badly destroyed in 1034. Emperor Constantine Monomakh, his wife, ordered the construction of a fortress wall around the church.
As a result, the building was transformed into a monastery. In 1862, Russian Emperor Nicholas I initiated work to restore the temple. After the restoration, the appearance of the building changed noticeably. Domed vaults were replaced with ordinary ceilings, and the church itself was complemented by a bell tower.
In 1964, during excavations carried out on the monastery territory, marble mosaics remained from wall paintings were discovered. Many monuments of Myra have lost their former appearance. Particularly popular is a group of tombs called the Painted Tomb. Despite the fading colors, the bas-reliefs decorating the burials look magnificent.
The Lycian Worlds are of great importance for Christians. The city owes this to the Orthodox Nicholas the Wonderworker. On December 19, Orthodoxy celebrates his memory day.
Working hours
You can visit the ancient city of Mira from 9:00 to 19:00.
I buy tickets
Near the entrance to the territory there is a small market with souvenirs, a couple of cafes, and freshly squeezed orange juice is sold everywhere.
Miracles of St. Nicholas
The great saint is known for his intercession. There are many stories related to the miracles he performed. During his lifetime, the presbyter saved a girl from marriage because of her parent’s debts. Soon the saint also stood up for the rescued sisters. He secretly gave them a bag of money. The problems have been resolved.
Many people were healed at the saint's shrine. There is a known case of saving a ship from sinking by calming a storm. The Wonderworker also showed himself as a zealot of Orthodoxy. This is reflected in what is called “Zoya’s Standing,” a story associated with disrespect for the icon.
Over time, in the West, Saint Nicholas turned into the fairy-tale wizard Santa Claus, bringing gifts on Christmas night. Most visitors to the resort of Antalya do not even think that they are a couple of hours from holy places where they can pray.
Not a single request will be left unattended. Biography Nicholas was born in the city of Patara into the aristocratic family of Nonna and Feofan. The saint's parents were wealthy people. Despite the possibility of a comfortable existence, they chose a life pleasing to God.
Only thanks to their fervent prayers and the promise to dedicate the child to the service of the Lord, Feofan and Nonna were given joy. They had a baby, named Nicholas. The newborn refused to drink mother's milk on Wednesdays and Fridays while fasting.
In his adolescence, the future bishop showed special talents in the sciences. He was not interested in empty entertainment. Almost all of the young man’s time was spent in prayer. After the death of his parents, Nikolai inherited a considerable fortune.
However, wealth did not bring him joy. Having been ordained, the ascetic began to lead an even more strict life. He performed his good deeds in secret from everyone, according to the commandments of the Gospel. This is where the tradition originated, according to which children find gifts on Christmas morning. The presbyter remains the image of love, meekness and humility.
He preferred simple clothes and denied jewelry. The saint's food was exclusively lean. He ate the only time that day. The shepherd did not refuse his help to anyone.
During the life of Nicholas, persecution began against Christians. He was subjected to severe trials and imprisoned. The presbyter went to the Lord for about eight decades. The date of death fell on December 6 (19 New Style).
Shop-cafe of the state winery of Turkey
The first was a stop at the shop-cafe of the state winery of Turkey, a mandatory visit for all travel agencies operating in Turkey. Because departure from the hotel was early, we had lunch boxes taken from our hotel, we had breakfast there on the open veranda of the cafe, those who wanted to buy coffee, tea, buns on the spot (orange juice 1 dollar, pomegranate 1-2). The prices in the cafe were normal for the tourist area of Turkey. But on the way back we were already taken to a wine cellar with a small tasting and simply wild prices for wines and sweets. The same sweets at the Grand Bazaar were 6 times cheaper. Yes, we have never seen such wine anywhere else in Turkey, it tasted delicious, but most people on the bus were not ready to buy it at $40 a bottle. It’s still strange, how can you raise prices like that? After Greek wines for 3.5 dollars with their amazing taste and quality, I was not ready to buy something 10 times more expensive, to put it mildly. Yes, the pomegranate wines and those we tasted were not bad, but not at these prices. It should be noted here that the standard of living, at least in the resort area in Turkey, is many times higher than in Russia; a teacher receives about $1,000, but the cost of living is $1,400 per family. But in Russia, a teacher, as a rule, receives $450, and in the end it clearly does not correspond even to theoretical possibilities, given that all things and equipment are imported and cost in dollars (+ Turkey provides almost 100% of its own food products).
Lycian worlds today
Little remains of the city's former greatness. The modern tourism industry is transforming everything, even previously quiet places. On the approaches to the temple where St. Nicholas once served, pilgrims see a large plastic Santa Claus. This is a reminder of the Christmas celebrations.
Closer to the church there is a figure of the Wonderworker, made in the canonical style. The Turkish authorities allow worship in the temple only on a single day, December 19.
According to research by scientists, signs of being in damp and cold for a long time were found on the relics of the saint.
A radiological study confirmed the similarity of the iconographic image with the reconstruction carried out in Bari based on the skull found in the tomb.
The city of St. Nicholas the Pleasant itself has not been preserved in its original form. However, it is possible to visit its ruins. They attract many tourists who are interested in ancient history.
Each coastal hotel, of which there are a lot, offers its own version of an excursion to the city of St. Nicholas.
Peace and silence descend on the Lycian Worlds only in the cold season. Then, when looking at the church building, you can feel eternity.
How to get to Demre
1. In a rented car (as we did: I wrote about car rental in Turkey in this article). You need to take the D400 highway and then follow the signs for Mira.
Signs to Mira and the Church of St. Nicholas
At this intersection we turn left (the sign to Mira is not very noticeable
