Christian clergy gather in İznik 1,700 years later
A delegation of Christian clergy visited the İznik district of Bursa to commemorate the First Council of Nicaea, which took place approximately 1,700 years ago. The delegation toured historical sites in İznik and prayed by the lakeshore. Additionally, Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of Catholics, is expected to visit İznik in the coming months.
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Christian clergy visited İznik to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.
Ahead of the expected visit by Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of Catholics and Head of State of the Vatican, in the coming months, a delegation of clergy from various Christian denominations arrived in the İznik district of Bursa.
The delegation made various visits in the district as part of the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, one of the most important meetings in the history of Christianity, which was held in 325 AD. As part of the program, the Lefke Gate, the İznik Museum, and the Hagia Sophia Mosque of İznik were toured. Later, the clergy gathered at a restaurant by the shore of Lake İznik to pray.
Speaking during the visit, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydın, the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of the Netherlands, said, "The first council was convened in this city by Emperor Constantine in 325. We are here together to commemorate this historical event 1,700 years later. The First Council of Nicaea holds great significance not only for Christianity but for all religions."
Aydın also stated that the newly elected Pope Leo XIV would visit İznik in the coming months along with the Patriarch, noting that this visit is very valuable both for the Christian world and for dialogue between different faiths.