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Date Posted: 03:46:13 03/09/03 Sun
Author: ketch - 23 Dec 2002
Subject: The Bones of St Nicholas
In reply to: ketch - 23 Dec 2002 's message, "Santa Claus - The Early Years" on 03:42:06 03/09/03 Sun


St. Nicholas Basilica - Bari


The remains of Archbishop Nicholas were enshrined at Myra for several centuries, but were "translated" (i.e. stolen) and taken to Bari in Apulia (Italy) in the 11th century, arriving at Bari on 9 May 1087.

The tradition of "translating" relics was well established at this time, it being believed that the bones could not be moved against the saints wishes. Such sacred translations were important for the medieval tourist trade, and Bari prospered as a resuly of St Nicholas's arrival.

The story of the translation comes from Niceforus, a 12th century monk of Bari.

Some merchants went to Antioch to sell grain, and heard rumours that some Venetians intended to steal the bones. The Bari merchants decided to beat them to it, and sailed for the Lycian coast, making their way to the church where St Nicholas was buried. A sacred oil is said to have flowed in the church, but the local monks refused to reveal the exact resting place of St Nicholas.

The merchants claimed that the Pope had ordered them to remove the bones, and threatened to burn the church and kill the monks. One of the guards then told them the burial place was below the flow of the sacred oil. The merchants then broke the marble coffin and removed the body, whereupon a strong fragrance "the odour of sanctity" spread through the church.

On the very first day that the remains arrigved in Bari, 30 people were miraculously cured of various illnesses.

The basilica of St Nicholas begun in 1087 was not finished till 1197. The relics are held in a cript where there is a single lamp burning, fed by two containers, representing Bari's marriage of East and West. One container is from Asia, the other from Italy. Water exudes from a spring in the natural rockface, and is collected in bottles and sold to pilgrims as "Manna of St Nicholas."

Around the shrine is a design by Moorish artists from Sicily. The early church elders were apparently unable to read Arabic, and so did not realise that it read: "There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His prophet". The Vatican has since noted that the entire floor would have to be removed at great cost to destroy the affirmation, so it remains to this day.

Each year the people of Bari celebrate the feast of St Nicholas in May, when the local fishing fleet escorts a symbolic coffin out to sea.

Anonymous 13th century account of the translation of St nicholas

Festival of the Translation of the Relics ~ Bari, Italy

Catholic Encyclopedia - St Nicholas

Virtual Tour - Basilica di S. Nicola

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