Archaeologists in Turkey believe they've made a groundbreaking discovery, possibly uncovering the remains of a church they believe hosted the First Council of Nicaea, one of the most pivotal events in the history of Christianity.An international team of researchers in July excavated a church complex in the ancient city of Nicaea, now within the modern town of İznik, according to Turkish state media outlet Anadolu Agency (AA).The building, which excavation director Mustafa Şahin identified as the Church of St.Neophytos, was destroyed by an earthquake in 368 A.D.LOST SERMONS FROM ONE OF CHRISTIANITY'S GREATEST SAINTS DISCOVERED AFTER 1,600 YEARSIt was soon replaced by the Church of the Holy Fathers, built around 380 A.D.Pictures show archaeologists excavating the stone foundations of the ancient church complex along the shore of Lake İznik, where trenches have exposed centuries-old walls and masonry.Archaeologists said they uncovered evidence of an earlier church they believed hosted the First Council of Nicaea in A.D.
325.(Mustafa Yılmaz/Anadolu via Getty Images; Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)Şahin told AA his team was tipped off to the existence of a smaller church after discovering that the floor paving extended beyond the walls of the existing basilica."That was our most important question this season," he said.
"We began excavating east of the prothesis, outside the church's exterior wall."'SIGNIFICANT' EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH EMERGES BENEATH FORMER FISH MARKET IN ANCIENT CITYHe added, "At the end of the first week, as we had hoped, we discovered that the floor paving continued beyond the existing church."Nicaea is famous for hosting the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.— the first-ever ecumenical council in Christian history.The excavation took place in the ancient city of Nicaea, now the modern Turkish town of İznik.
(Mustafa Yilmaz/Anadolu via Getty Images)The council famously produced the Nicene Creed, affirming that Jesus was "bego...