The Arts Society The Hague (https://theartssociety.org/the-hague) invites you to join us for the 3rd lecture of the season given by Sally Dormer on ‘St Nicholas, Myra and Santa Claus – Mistaken Identity’ in the Atrium, Atrium of R.C Parish ‘Church of Our Saviour’, Helenastraat 8, 2595HA The Hague, on Tuesday 9th December 2025 at 20.00 hours.
How did the remains of Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop from Myra, Turkey, reach Bari, Italy in 1087? And how did this rather obscure churchman become the patron saint of sailors, merchants, prisoners, and children in the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe? This lecture explores the development of St Nicholas’ medieval cult through the artefacts associated with it: icons, wall paintings, and illuminated manuscripts, and charts his eventual transformation into the well-loved Santa Claus.
Dr Sally Dormer, an accredited lecturer of The Arts Society UK, is a lecturer and tutor for the Early Medieval Year Course at V&A. She’s Dean of ‘European Studies’ for 2 US Universities and a freelance lecturer for The Art Fund. She also lectures for study tours, cruises, and tour groups. She has a BA (History) University of Durham and a PhD (Medieval Manuscript illumination) and MA (Medieval History of Art) from the Courtauld Institute.
The attendance fee is EUR 15, which can either be paid in advance (by registering via https://theartssociety.org/events/lecture-st-nicholas-myra-and-santa-claus-mistaken-identity) or at the welcome table, preferably with their bank/debit/credit card and our SumUp device.
For this seasonal lecture, mulled wine (Glühwein) and minced pies will be served after the lecture in the Atrium.
For those unable to be present at the Atrium, this lecture will also be streamed via Zoom to those who registered.
Persons are requested to sign up for the lecture beforehand, also if they are coming to join us in person at the Atrium, as this gives an estimate of the number attending.