Early Christianity

Some findings about Father Noel

Mithra belief and Nicolaus the child

Mithra belief was introduced and diffused to Lycia (Patara-Myra region in where Father Noel lived) by St.Paul at 60 AD. St.Paul was Jewish and born and educated in Tarsus/Cilicia. He had come to Patara and Myra several times. At the last coming to Myra while he was taking away to Rome for hanging as a prison sentenced to death by the empire, the vessel carrying him stroked to the rocks near by Andriake (the harbor of Myra) and was in danger of submersion. He remained in Myra for a while during the repair of the ship. You see the ruins of the prison in where St.Paul imprisoned for a while at Andriake on the picture of home page.

Father Noel was born on the 4th century AD. in Patara. The parents had given his name as Nicolaus. He had lost his parents at the very beginning and his uncle educated him. The uncle was chief astronomer-priest of Artemis (Sun) temple at Myra as one of the federal cities of Lycian Federation. He privately interested with Father Noel as his successor priest.

Nicolaus was educated comply with the stipulations of Mithra cult and had became a member of this belief while he was a children. The members of this belief were generally being selected among sailors, tradesman, soldiers and slaves as well. Enrolling to this belief was just possible for literate person who had a definite profession with information level enough for understanding the technical matters especially. In addition to this, the clever small children having future prospects could be member in case of membership a relative of their own. These were calling as "club child". Nicolaus was also a member of this belief as a "club child".*

Father Noel and Christianity background of him

There is no record or document showing Nicolaus was "Christian" while he is alive. The Roman-Byzantine administers, Christian fathers considered him as without religion or heretic till 1200 AD. The temple including the grave of Father Noel, was thoroughly demolished like a stone heap by "Diatimus" the archbishop of Limyra (Turuncova of present day) in 375 AD following the death of Roman emperor Julianus. Other Mithra temples at Lycian cities such as Finike, Patara, Xanthus were converted to churches by him.

Later on the Orthodox and the catholic Christianity separated definitely each other and a big struggle begun between them. The pope of Catholics send and ultimatum to Bari, declared Nicolaus as heretic and announced the prohibition of the Mithra temple since there is no place for such a pagan belief in a catholic world. After that the Mithra (NOEL) basilica (temple) was urgently converted to a cathedral by Bari administers and Father Noel was recorded to the "Saints Book" of the church as "St.Nicolaus". After this declaration of Pope and being announced Father Noel as a saint, orthodox Christian emperor and church fathers domiciled in Istanbul, were declared the Nicolaus as Orthodox Saint too and using the available stones of thoroughly demolished Mithra temple in Myra (Demre) was rebuilt very much rapidly as a church. The church has no art value and architecturally non sense since was rebuilt in a hurry.*

Orthodox possession

In the same instance, the Russian people (Slav) were accepted orthodox Christianity at 1100 AD. Both of these events were very close each other. The Russians were familiar to Mithra (NOEL) cult because they knew, believed even worshiped to before Christianity. At the time of accepting orthodox Christianity, they immediately possessed to this church. It has been said that the tcharice spent very much for modifying this church and adding a bell tower. The entire frescoes, paintings and icons in the church were made by the Russians. The church and surrounding land was bought by Russian tchar from Ottoman emperor. The excavators of the church from the sand mill and mud accumulated of many years were Russian. Later Ottoman emperor “Abdülhamid” paid the cost and repurchased the church and its land from the Russians. This is the reason why the love and interest of Russian people to Noel Father.*

*This information was taken from H.Ö.Aktosun - Father Noel World representative

For concerning people... Mithra, the pagan belief prior to Christianity

Mithra cult is a legend on creativity. Known throughout Europe and Asia by the names Mithra, Mitra, Meitros, Mihr, Mehr, and Meher, the veneration of this god began around 2800 years ago in Persia, where it was soon moved west and became embedded with Babylonian doctrines. There is mention of Mithra or Mitra (et al) before 2800, but only as a minor deity and without much information. It appears to be after 2800 when Mithra is transformed and starts to play a major role among the gods.

The faith spread east through India to China, and reached west throughout the entire length of the Roman frontier; from Scotland to the Sahara Desert, and from Spain to the Black Sea. Sites of Mithraic worship have been found in Britain, Italy, Romania, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Persia, Armenia, Syria, Israel, and North Africa. In Rome, more than a hundred inscriptions dedicated to Mithra have been found, in addition to 75 sculpture fragments, and a series of Mithraic temples situated in all parts of the city.

In the Avesta, the holy book of the religion of Zarathustra, Ahura-Mazda was said to have created Mithras in order to guarantee the authority of contracts and the keeping of promises. The name Mithras was, in fact, the Persian word for 'contract'. The divine duty of Mithraism was to ensure general prosperity through good contractual relations between men. This legend involved some changing meanings comply with the belief of the shape of earth. The narrations on Mithraism are related to stars, sun, planets and space events.

Mithra belief was lost for a long time in ancient Greek and came into life again by the sailors in city of Tarsus of Cilicia 2200 year ago. This belief was penetrated into Roman empire by sailors, legionnaires, tradesman and slaves. Since it was a very disciplined belief was approved by soldiers-sailors. Many aspects and features were very similar to Christianity. Upon the communice of Byzantine emperor, Mithra belief and activities were officially banned on 391 AD. Mithra was lost at the end of 4th century AD. At present, this belief, is continuing between the sailors (Dutch, Italian, northern countries' and Russian) in a very limited level.