Turkish archaeologists may have located the original church of the 325 Nicaea council

Archaeologists working in the modern town of İznik have reported the discovery of a previously unknown church complex beneath the ruins of the Church of the Holy Fathers. Directed by Mustafa Şahin, the dig uncovered stone walls and floor paving that extend beyond the existing basilica, suggesting an earlier building on the site. The team believes this earlier structure, named the Church of St. Neophytos, was the location where bishops gathered for the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. The later basilica, dated to about 380 A.D. by coins recovered from graves, was erected after an earthquake destroyed the original church in 368 A.D. Contemporary descriptions by Eusebius of Caesarea note the council’s setting as a small church, a detail that aligns with the dimensions of the newly uncovered remains. Şahin expressed confidence that the findings confirm the historic link between the site and the council, adding to Turkey’s recent string of early-Christian archaeological discoveries.