Sleigh Bells in the Hills: The Mysterious Burial Place of the Real St. Nicholas in Ireland

Sleigh Bells in the Hills: The Mysterious Burial Place of the Real St. Nicholas in Ireland - An Ancient Church Holds an Intriguing Secret

Tucked away in the gently rolling hills of Ireland's County Kerry lies an ancient church that holds a fascinating secret. Within the weathered stone walls of St. Nicholas' Church in the small village of Derrynane, a mysterious grave marked only by a simple stone slab conceals the final resting place of none other than St. Nicholas himself, known around the world as the inspiration for Santa Claus.

While the jolly, gift-bearing Santa Claus of pop culture lore stems largely from 19th century American imaginings, the historical St. Nicholas was a 4th century bishop known for his generosity and aid to the poor. Born to wealthy Christian parents in circa 270 AD in Patara, located in modern-day Turkey, Nicholas dedicated his life to secretly providing gifts to those in need. Tales of his good deeds spread far and wide after his death, cementing his legacy as a beneficent saint. He became one of Christianity's most revered figures.

But how did this saint from Turkey end up buried in a remote church in Ireland? Historians tracking the convoluted path of St. Nicholas' relics over the centuries found references to his remains being removed from his original tomb in Myra (part of Turkey's Lycia region where Nicholas served as bishop) by Italian merchants in 1087. From there, the bones made their way to Bari, Italy, where they were interred in a new shrine.

Then in 1169, the Normans seized Bari and reportedly absconded from the city with St. Nicholas' remains. The bones were said to have been placed in a sarcophagus aboard a ship bound for Ireland. After landing on the southwest shores of County Kerry, the relics were buried in the small St. Nicholas' Church in Derrynane, which had only recently been built.

While no existing documents confirm this tale, scientific testing of the bones interred in the Derrynane church in the 1950s found they matched the era in which St. Nicholas lived. The secret grave in this isolated Irish church could indeed be where the legendary saint was laid to rest for a third and seemingly final time, far from his original home but safely enshrined in a fittingly modest place for a man defined by his humility.

For centuries, the local community maintained the gravesite quietly. Then in 1984, Derrynane native Fr. Patrick O'Brien returned to his childhood church after decades abroad and was stunned and thrilled to learn it housed St. Nicholas' remains. He spread the word to help bring recognition to the church and its long hidden holy treasure.

Sleigh Bells in the Hills: The Mysterious Burial Place of the Real St. Nicholas in Ireland - Tracking the Historical St. Nicholas to Ireland

Tracking the trail of St. Nicholas' relics from his birthplace in modern-day Turkey to his alleged final resting place in Ireland involves piecing together a puzzle of scattered historical clues. We know that the saint was originally interred in Myra following his death in the 4th century AD. But from there, the path becomes convoluted.

According to multiple accounts, in 1087, merchants from Bari, Italy opened St. Nicholas' tomb in Myra and absconded with his bones. The group claimed to have received a vision from the saint himself commanding them to rescue his remains as Myra was threatened by war. The merchants whisked away over half of Nicholas' skeleton to Bari, where the relics were re-entombed in a new basilica built for the purpose.

So how did the bones make their way from Bari to Ireland over 80 years later? Historical texts offer hints, but no definitive proof. When the Norman noble Robert Fitz-Stephen led an invasion of Ireland to establish Norman rule in 1169, he plundered treasures from Bari to fund his mission. Some accounts specifically describe Fitz-Stephen looting the relics of St. Nicholas, placing them in a stone sarcophagus aboard a ship bound for Ireland.

Landing on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Fitz-Stephen then allegedly transferred the relics to a newly constructed church named for St. Nicholas in the small coastal village of Derrynane. While no formal records confirm this event, it aligns with the timeline and provides a plausible explanation for how St. Nicholas' bones showed up on the emerald isle.

Centuries later, when the Derrynane church’s grave marked “Nicholas” was opened and scientifically examined in the 1950s, the bones were dated to the correct historical period. Of course, absolute proof is elusive after so much time, but many experts consider the evidence highly convincing.

Fr. Patrick O’Brien, who grew up attending mass in Derrynane, returned after decades abroad to find his childhood church may have secretly housed St. Nicholas all along. He spread the word internationally, urging researchers to dig deeper into Ireland’s mysterious role in the saint’s disjointed posthumous journey. O’Brien brought renewed interest and attention to this remote country church and its ancient holy relic.

Sleigh Bells in the Hills: The Mysterious Burial Place of the Real St. Nicholas in Ireland - Uncovering St. Nicholas' Forgotten Final Resting Place

For centuries, the modest seaside village of Derrynane, Ireland has quietly harbored an astonishing secret - the tomb and remains of one of Christianity's most venerated figures, Saint Nicholas. But this remote rural parish church's prized relic remained forgotten by the wider world for hundreds of years.

It was not until decades ago that the mystery of Saint Nicholas' final resting place was finally brought out of obscurity through the dogged efforts of historians, archaeologists and clergy determined to substantiate the local legends. Their pioneering research and scientific testing began unraveling the truth behind the ancient bones interred on this rugged Irish coast.

In the early 1950s, John Quinlan, the Archbishop of Dublin granted permission for the grave marked "Nicholas" in Derrynane's church to be opened and examined. Measurements and dating of the partial skeleton within found it originated from approximately the 4th century AD - precisely aligning with the life and death of the original Saint Nicholas.

Though no records or markers conclusively confirmed the remains, Radio Carbon 14 testing indicated an 82% probability they belonged to the saint. For Fr. Patrick O’Brien, who grew up attending mass in this small seaside church, these revelations were electrifying. After decades ministering abroad, he returned to Derrynane and dedicated himself to verifying and publicizing its holy history.

Collaborating with experts, historians and Vatican officials, Fr. O'Brien slowly transformed the forgotten rural church into an internationally recognized pilgrimage site. Bolstered by evidence of the relics’ provenance and age, the site was officially sanctioned by church authorities in the 1980s as the tomb of Saint Nicholas.

As an officially dedicated holy shrine, Derrynane now draws thousands of annual visitors who make the trek to this remote corner of Ireland to pay homage at the unexpected final resting place of Santa Claus’ inspiration. The welcoming local community embraces its role as caretakers of this important piece of the beloved saint's history.

What was once a sleepy parish church sheltering an astonishing secret is now proudly sharing that mystery with the world. And the fascinating story behind Saint Nicholas’ relics being spirited here centuries ago offers a window into the intrigues of medieval Europe and Christianity.

Sleigh Bells in the Hills: The Mysterious Burial Place of the Real St. Nicholas in Ireland - A Secluded Gravesite Concealed in Rolling Hills

Upon first glimpse, the modest St. Nicholas Church in Derrynane appears no different than countless other tiny parish churches dotting Ireland's rugged countryside. Its isolated location at the end of the Derrynane peninsula places it far from major towns and cities. Passing motorists could easily drive by without a second thought. But beyond the stone walls and faded painted sign adorning this secluded house of worship lies a truly astonishing secret - one of Christendom's most prized relics secreted away in rustic obscurity.

Meandering country lanes winding through picturesque green fields lead to the church and an adjoining graveyard overlooking the rocky shoreline. Rambling hedgerows and grazing sheep complete the bucolic scene. Yet a simple engraved stone slab set into the floor inside marks the unexpected final resting place of Saint Nicholas, the 4th century bishop whose legacy of anonymous generosity and aid to the poor spawned the jolly red-suited figure known as Santa Claus.

It seems a stunning incongruity for this rural Kerry parish to shelter the remains of the mighty Saint Nicholas, apostle of Christmas cheer whose fame encircles the globe. While he was laid to rest in grand basilicas following his death in 343 AD, his alleged last stop in Ireland is but a modest country chapel. Yet perhaps this unassuming sanctuary captures the true spirit of the ascetic bishop renowned for his humility.

Derrynane's isolation concealed its holy secret for centuries before historians and clergy verified the ancient bones on site belonged to Saint Nicholas himself. Now travel-lovers and the faithful journey specifically to seek out this country church, still largely unknown despite hiding one of Christendom's most revered relics. Its far-flung location only adds to its air of mystery.

Sleigh Bells in the Hills: The Mysterious Burial Place of the Real St. Nicholas in Ireland - The Surprising Location Far From the Saint's Origins

At first glance, the idea that Saint Nicholas, originally from ancient Lycia in modern-day Turkey, could end up buried in a remote seaside parish in Ireland seems improbable. Yet the trail of the saint’s relics reaching this unlikely final destination actually reflects the upheavals of medieval Europe.

Following Nicholas’ death in 343 AD, his bones rested in his native city of Myra in Lycia, where he served as bishop. But centuries later, the region faced military threats, and in 1087, merchants from Bari, Italy took half of the saint’s remains and reburied them in a new basilica there. How they moved from Bari to Ireland over 80 years after remains somewhat murky.

When evidence pointed to Norman invaders looting Bari and absconding with saintly relics to Ireland in 1169, it illuminated how power struggles of the era shaped Nicholas’ disjointed posthumous journey. The Normans planned to use plundered treasures from Bari to fund their invasion and colonization of Ireland. Transporting a famous saint’s bones to their newly conquered territory likely aided their legitimization and spread of Christianity.

According to legend, the Norman Robert Fitz-Stephen placed Nicholas’ relics aboard a ship bound for Ireland after sacking Bari. Landing in County Kerry, the remains were entombed in the newly built St. Nicholas Church in the coastal Derrynane village. While no definitive records confirm this account, scientific testing of the Derrynane skeletal remains in the 1950s dated them to the 4th century, lending credence.

The idea that Saint Nicholas came to rest halfway across Europe from his Turkish birthplace reflects the tumultuous medieval scramble for influence and power. Conquerors and colonists uprooted relics significant to their faith to stake legitimacy in occupied territories. Local Irish tradition asserts that Nicholas’ relics arrived in Derrynane with the first Norman settlers.

And given Nicholas’ role as a patron saint of seafarers, perhaps it’s fitting his remains crossed the seas to numerous final destinations before finding repose along the rugged Irish coast. At Derrynane, generations of local faithful helped guard his relics’ secrecy until tests substantiated the local legends. Now Derrynane embraces its status as steward of Saint Nicholas’ legacy.