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Friday, February 25, 2005

BBC NEWS | Europe | Santa Claus statue row in Turkey

"Santa Claus statue row in Turkey

Residents of the Turkish province of Antalya have held a rally to denounce the removal of a statue of St Nicholas, commonly known as Santa Claus.
Local authorities replaced the statue of the saint holding a Bible with a plastic Santa-Claus.
The statue was a donation from Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who has sent a complaint to the Turkish president.
St Nicholas lived in the town of Demre - then known as Myra - in Antalya in the 4th Century.
He is believed to have performed miracles to help poor chidren.
People in many Orthodox Christian countries, including pre-Bolshevik thanked St Nicholas for bringing Christmas presents to children. "

More:BBC NEWS | Europe | Santa Claus statue row in Turkey