TURKEY: İznik commemorates 1,700th anniversary of First Council of Nicaea

İZNIK, Turkey — The historic town of İznik, formerly the ancient city of Nicaea, welcomed religious leaders and pilgrims from around the world to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history.

Delegations from various Christian denominations gathered for the occasion, with the Syriac Orthodox Church prominently represented by Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of the Netherlands Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin.

The First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by Roman Emperor Constantine, was the first ecumenical assembly in Christian history. It sought to unify Christian doctrine and produced the Nicene Creed, establishing key theological principles, including the definition of the Holy Trinity and the nature of Christ.

Seventeen centuries later, İznik once again became a center of reflection and unity. The Syriac Orthodox delegation included Metropolitan Polycarpus, scholar Gabriel Melas from the United Kingdom, and members of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) diaspora.

The commemoration featured speeches on the Nicaea’s theological and historical significance, alongside visits to cultural and religious landmarks such as the Lefke Gate, the İznik Museum, and the Hagia Sophia, a former cathedral now functioning as a mosque. The day concluded with a communal prayer service, underscoring fellowship and shared spiritual heritage.

Metropolitan Polycarpus expressed his joy in revisiting the historic city, calling it a profound pilgrimage and a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of Nicaea.

The event also served as a precursor to an anticipated visit by Pope Leo XIV and Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, who are scheduled to visit İznik in the coming months.

Originally founded in 316 BC by Macedonian general Antigonus I Monophthalmus and named Antigonia, the city was later renamed Nicaea under Lysimachus. It rose to prominence as a key center of early Christianity under Roman rule, forever etched in history as the site of one of the most consequential councils in Christian faith.