On December 19, 2024, the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra, solemn services and commemorative events were held in the Turkish city of Demre, organized with the participation of the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian cultural organizations. The Synodal Department for External Church Relations reported on the events. 

Priest Georgy Sergeyev, responsible for the pastoral care of the Moscow Patriarchate's flock in Turkey, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the ancient site of Myra in Lycia (modern-day Demre). He was assisted by Priest Alexey Golovin, who serves parishes in Antalya, Marmaris, and Fethiye. Over 250 pilgrims from various regions of Turkey and visitors vacationing on the Antalya coast attended the service. After the liturgy, a moleben (prayer service) to St. Nicholas was performed, along with a memorial litany for Andrei Gennadyevich Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, who tragically died on December 19, 2016.

Following the service, participants laid flowers at the monument to Ambassador Karlov on the street named in his honor.

The commemorations continued at the Demre Town Hall, where attendees explored the exhibits of the A.G. Karlov Museum and viewed the art exhibition "One Heart for Two Nations: Mother of Peace" by Russian artists. The event concluded with speeches from Maria Golovina, the organizer of the events, a message from Marina Karlova, the ambassador's widow, and remarks by clergy, representatives of the Russian consulate, and members of the Orthodox community in Antalya.