Gemiler Island

Gemiler Island (Turkish: Gemiler Adası) is an island located off the coast of Turkey near the city of Fethiye. On the island are the remains of several churches built between the fourth and sixth centuries AD, along with a variety of associated buildings. Archaeologists believe it was the location of the original tomb of Saint Nicholas.

Gemiler Island
Native name:
Gemiler Adası

Nickname: St. Nicholas Island
A view from the ruins on island.
Geography
LocationMediterranean Sea near Fethiye
Coordinates36.553448°N 29.069352°E / 36.553448; 29.069352
Length1 km (0.6 mi)
Administration

History

The Byzantine ruins of five Greek churches built between the fourth and sixth centuries AD remain on the island,[1][2] along with a 350 metres (1,150 ft) processional walkway. Other remains from the same period include around forty other ecclesiastical buildings and over fifty Christian tombs.[1] One of the churches was cut directly from the rock at the island's highest point, and is located at the far western end of the processional walkway.[1] It is possible that the Island was used by Christian pilgrims en route to the Holy Lands.

Modern archaeologists believe that the island may be the location of St. Nicholas' original tomb.[1] The traditional Turkish name for the island is Gemiler Adası, meaning "Island of Boats", which may be a reference to St. Nicholas's role as the patron saint of sailors; the island was also referred to as St. Nicholas Island by seafarers in the medieval period.[1] Archaeologists believe he was interred in the rock-hewn church following his death in 326. His relics remained there until the 650s, when the island was abandoned as it was threatened by an Arab fleet. They were then moved to the town of Myra some 25 miles (40 km) to the east.[1]

Economy

The island is currently a popular destination for large Turkish gulets (for instance from Olu Deniz), bringing many tourists to the island as well as many smaller private boats since the crescent-shaped bay can be used as a safe anchorage. The Byzantine ruins can be seen from the sea. A small makeshift restaurant stands in the bay for the summer sailors. The owners do not live on the island, but return to the mainland when there are no boats around. A charge of 10TL is currently levied upon visitors to the ruins.[3]

References
  1. Keys, David (17 December 1993). "Santa's tomb is found off Turkey: Academics claim to have found where St Nicholas was buried. David Keys reports". The Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  2. Eskenazi, Gerald (28 June 1998). "The Boating Report; Cruising Along the Turkish Coast, Comfortably". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  3. Neville, Pam (21 August 2008). "Viewing history from the shoreline". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
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