Oxford researchers make startling discovery about ancient St. Nicholas relic

Just don’t tell the kids.

Researchers at Oxford University have used modern scientific technology to test a religious relic believed to belong to St. Nicholas, the fourth-century Christian bishop whose generosity inspired the legend of Santa Claus.

Tom Higham and Georges Kazan, directors of the Oxford Relics Cluster, used radiocarbon dating to investigate a pelvic bone fragment thought to belong to the saint. The tests showed that the bone fragment dates to the fourth century - the period when some historians believe St. Nicholas died. Read more.