TOMB NOT IN GREAT NICK..

Sea level rise puts grave of saint at risk

- MYRIAM TOUA and EMILIA RANDALL

ARCHAEOLOGISTS may have unearthed the original burial site of St. Nicholas in Turkey, before a notorious historical grave robbery took place.

While he’s integral to the Christmas story, Kris Kringle was a real person who lived in the fourth century.

The figure we know as Santa Claus is based on St Nicholas, who was born in Turkey and served as a bishop in what is now Demre.

He was buried in St. Nicholas Church in what was then called Myra. However, a new church was later built over his grave by order of Roman Emperor Theodosis II.

But despite his tomb being definitively in Turkey, this isn’t where his remains currently lie.