Myra of Lycia
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Acts 27:5)—a city in Lycia, in Asia Minor. Here the ship on which St. Paul the Apostle was being sent to Rome, together with other prisoners, stopped for some time, and here all who were on the ship were transferred to another ship bound directly for Italy. In Myra of Lycia, during the times of Diocletian and Constantine the Great, Saint Nicholas served as bishop (commemorated December 6 and May 9), a rule of faith and an image of gentleness, a teacher of abstinence, as the words of the church hymn say, and here he was renowned, during his life and after his death, for his many miracles and works of charity.
The city was one of the six chief cities of Lycia, and was located east of Patara. On its site there stands to this day a rather small settlement which has retained its ancient name, though the Turks call it Demre. Near the settlement there are considerable ruins, with the remains of a large amphitheater and other structures.