Hyderabad: Saint Nicholas born in a Lycia in the Turkish port city of Patara, in AD 3rd or 4th century, was the one who later became the legend, Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas came to be known as Christmas Father and New Year father initially in Germany. In Germany, the feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the New year day. It was the Dutch migrants in America who first started celebrating Saint Nicholas’s feast in America. These celebrations on St Nicholas’s feast day gradually transformed into a tradition in America.
The Dutch used to refer to Saint Nicholas as ‘Sinter Claus’. This metamorphosed as Santi Claus and then into Santa Claus.
The only place of worship in India, which preserves the relics of the original Santa Claus - Saint Nicholas, is Pambakuda Saint John's Orthodox Church (locally known as Pambakuda Valiya Palli) in Ernakulam District of Kerala. Inside the railings along the Southern walls of the Church, the holy relics of the saint and a very small part of his cross are preserved unscathed by time, here.
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During his Jerusalem (Oorslem) tour, Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (popular known as Parumala Thirumeni), as per his request, the Bishop of Jerusalem handed Parumala Thirumeni a part of the relics of Saint Nicholas. On returning home, Saint Geevarghese respectfully handed St Nicholas’s relic to Konat Geevarghese Mar Yuliosis whom Parumala Thirumeni considered a guru. Later, in AD 1903, the relic was installed under the main cross at the Pambakuda Church.
