1,700-Year-Old Church Discovered Beneath Lake İznik

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient church approximately 1,700 years old beneath Lake İznik in Turkey. The find is thought to be connected to the First Council of Nicaea, one of the most important gatherings in Christian history. However, the suggestion that the church was the location of the Council of Nicaea, or the council of bishops from around the world, in 325 AD remains a matter of debate among academics.

Nicaea was an ancient Greek city located in modern-day Turkey, on the shores of Lake İznik, also known as Lake Nicaea. The First Council of Nicaea was convened in 325 AD and brought together Christian bishops to resolve a number of theological differences. The meeting produced the Nicene Creed, one of the principal formulations of Christian belief. At that time, the Roman Empire was under the rule of Emperor Constantine I, who lived from around 272 to 337 AD. Constantine had legalised Christianity and, according to historical sources, played an important role in organising the council.

The remains of a large church were first discovered by archaeologists beneath Lake İznik in 2014. Since excavations began in 2015, the research team has gradually uncovered the remains of another, smaller church directly beneath it. Mustafa Şahin, professor of archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University who leads the excavation, said the team found the stone floor of the small church about 30 centimetres below the basilica. This position indicates that the small church was likely built before the basilica above it.

Şahin said the find is intriguing because one of the participants in the Council of Nicaea, Eusebius of Caesarea, mentioned that the meeting took place in a ‘house of prayer’ or small church. This characteristic is considered more consistent with the newly discovered small building than with the large basilica above it. The archaeological team has not yet been able to determine the exact size of the small church. Based on historical records, however, Şahin suspects the building may have been the Church of Neophytos, while the large basilica later built above it is likely the Church of Holy Fathers.

Neophytos was a Christian who lived in Nicaea and was killed in 303 AD. The Church of Holy Fathers is said to have been built to commemorate the Council of Nicaea. Based on a combination of historical records and archaeological remains, the small church is estimated to have been destroyed by an earthquake in 368 AD. A larger church was then built on the site around 380 AD.

So far, archaeologists have not found walls or decorations from the small church. The main building material also cannot yet be determined because only the stone floor foundation has survived. Şahin suspects that most of the church structure was probably made of wood.

Despite the find, several experts not involved in the excavation have urged caution against hastily identifying the site as the location of the Council of Nicaea. They argue there is no certainty that the bishops held the meeting in that church. Even if the church was used, the most important meeting likely took place in the imperial palace belonging to Constantine. The problem is that the location of the imperial palace has not yet been found. It is possible that the building is also beneath Lake İznik.

Young Richard Kim, professor of classics at the University of Illinois Chicago, said the age of the small church also cannot yet be determined with certainty. He pointed out that Eusebius of Caesarea mentioned the opening session of the council took place in the ‘imperial palace’. The council also lasted for about three months. Therefore, according to Kim, it cannot yet be confirmed whether the discovered church was indeed one of the meeting places for council participants.

A similar view was expressed by Charles Odahl, professor emeritus of history at Boise State University. He believes the Council of Nicaea took place in an imperial palace on the shore of Lake Nicaea. ‘This underwater church is nearby, but it is not the meeting place of the council under the emperor,’ Odahl said.

Meanwhile, David Gwynn, a historian at Royal Holloway, University of London, said the evidence that the church may date from the early 4th century is quite promising. This means the building could potentially have a connection with the Council of Nicaea. However, he cautioned against exaggerating the significance of the physical building. According to Gwynn, the find is better viewed as evidence that provides additional insight into the environment in which one of the important events in the development of Christianity took place.

The Council of Nicaea itself was a large-scale meeting. The event lasted more than a month, involving hundreds of bishops and possibly around 2,000 clergy and support staff. Although the exact location of the meeting is still debated, Gwynn said the excavation at Lake İznik continues to provide new information and has once again drawn attention to an event that had a major influence on the development of Christianity. Excavation and analysis of the site are still ongoing.