Off the coast of Turkey, near the modern city of Fethiye, lies the abandoned island of St. Nicholas, as it was known to sailors during the medieval period.
Archaeologists believe that this small island is where the first burial of St. Nicholas took place, from which the island derived its name.
On the island, visitors can find ruins of collapsed buildings and the remnants of five churches built between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, during the Byzantine period. There are also over fifty Christian graves.
The island likely served as a stopping point for Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land.
Archaeologists estimate that after his death in 326 AD, St. Nicholas was buried in a church carved into the rock at the highest point of the island, at the westernmost end of a 350-meter-long walking trail.
His relics are believed to have remained there until the 650s AD when the island was abandoned due to the threat of raids by the Arab fleet. His remains were then moved to Myra in Lycia, about 40 kilometers to the east, where St. Nicholas served as bishop.
The Turkish name of the island is "Gemiler Adası," meaning "Island of Ships," which could refer to St. Nicholas' role as the patron saint of sailors.
The island is no longer a pilgrimage site, as the churches are now in ruins following the destruction of Asia Minor and the expulsion of Greeks from the East.
However, the island still attracts numerous tourists during the summer months, arriving on large Turkish sailboats (gulets) as well as smaller private vessels. The bay has a crescent shape and serves as a safe anchorage.
Additionally, the island features an improvised restaurant, open only during the tourist season, where visitors can enjoy traditional Turkish dishes.
