While studying environmental disturbances of ancient cultures along the coast of Turkey in 1992, Earthwatch researchers investigated a large church and monastery complex on the coastal island of Gemiler. They learned that the St. Nicholas, who attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, was born on the mainland a short distance from Gemiler. He was an important Bishop (from nearby Myra) in the early church, and is considered the patron saint of sailors. (The Turkish name of the island is Gemiler Adasi, or Island of Sailors.)

A very old church with graves chiseled into the limestone is probably St. Nick's resting place. During the reign of Justinian, the site was enlarged to cover the whole island. Several large churches and a processional causeway to the old church were built. Nicholas's fame was worldwide at this time, and Gemiler was a holy city that acted as a magnet for pilgrims from a wide area. Veneration apparently continued until 650 AD, when Syria's Islamic fleet took control of the Mediterranian and the Byzantines retreated to the mainland. Turkey later became a part of the Greek Orthodox church. Five Roman Catholic Popes assumed the name Pope Nicholas from the ninth to the fifteenth century.

The goats still on Gemiler became reindeer in our American myth as English and Dutch Protestants in New York began the blending of Sinter Claes and Father Christmas stories. Early Byzantine portraits show him with a long white beard. St. Nicholas sailed around the coastal islands, rather than flying through the air in a sled. Early legends tell of St. Nick dropping gold pieces down the chimneys of poor unmarried maidens to act as a dowry. This probably started the tradition of the Christmas stockings, coal for bad children, and St. Nick's affinity for fireplace entrances. Europeans celebrate Dec. 6th as the feast of St. Nicholas, with gifts appearing on Dec. 5. (Rudolph is a mid-twentieth century addition, as are Frosty and Grinch stories, and Mickey Mouse ornaments {with halo!} and many other commercializations.)

Clearcutting the cedars of Lebanon about 1000 BC contributed to the current poor environment there. Turkey's coastal areas once were more fertile and more widely populated than now. Gemiler is a small island, less than one km long. It has olive groves and rocky hillsides, which goats keep closely cropped. Much of the soil erosion and desertification around the Mediterranean can be attributed to sheep and goat culture during the last several thousand years.

On May 1st and August 22, 1994, Earthwatch scientists and volunteer helper teams will start two new 15 day surveys of vegetation and archaeological sites along the Turkish coast to try to answer questions about human impacts on the environment. This summary was condensed from a Nov/Dec '93 Earthwatch article by Lyn Gunter.