Archaeologists in Turkey have unearthed what they believe to be the Church of St. Neophytos, a smaller, earlier structure that may have hosted the pivotal First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. The discovery in the ancient city of Nicaea (modern İznik) challenges previous assumptions that a larger basilica, the Church of the Holy Fathers built around 380 A.D., was the site. Excavation director Mustafa Şahin’s team found evidence of the older church’s floor paving extending beyond the walls of the later basilica, suggesting it was built over an earlier sacred site. Coins recovered from graves beneath the Church of the Holy Fathers date its construction to around 380 A.D., supporting the hypothesis that an even older, smaller church existed at the time of the council. This aligns with historical accounts by Eusebius of Caesarea, who described the council meeting in a remarkably small church. The First Council of Nicaea was a watershed moment in Christian history, famously producing the Nicene Creed, which affirmed the divinity of Jesus Christ and established foundational Christian doctrine. The potential discovery of this secret church offers a tangible link to this defining event, providing crucial insights into early Christian gatherings and the very formation of creedal Christianity.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News