CITYSHOTS: Views of Iznik's sunken basilica, Hagia Sophia ahead of Pope Leo visit

Record ID: 2273705

  • Title: CITYSHOTS: Views of Iznik's sunken basilica, Hagia Sophia ahead of Pope Leo visit
  • Date: 7th October 2025
  • Summary: IZNIK, TURKEY (FILE - OCTOBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS DRONE VIDEO OF THE BASILICA OF SAINT NEOPHYTOS, WHERE THE FIRST COUNCIL OF NICAEA IS BELIEVED TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE, DISCOVERED SUBMERGED IN LAKE IZNIK IN 2014, AND TOMBS NEXT TO BASILICA VARIOUS DRONE VIDEO OF HAGIA SOPHIA IN IZNIK, WHICH WAS BUILT BY ROMANS AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP, THEN REBUILT AS A CHURCH IN TH
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: BASILICA CHURCH COUNCIL OF NICAEA HAGIA SOPHIA MOSQUE POPE LEO TURKEY
  • Location: IZNIK, TURKEY
  • City: IZNIK, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Europe,Middle East,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA001096306102025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Pope Leo is expected to visit Turkey's northwestern town of Iznik for the 1,700th anniversary of the council of Nicaea on Friday (November 28) as part of his visit to the country this week. 
    The Nicaea Council, in the year 325, was the first ecumenical council in history, a meeting of church authorities to discuss and decide on issues regarding Christian doctrines.
    It produced the creed that, completed by the First Council of Constantinople in 381, has become the distinctive expression of the Church’s faith in Jesus Christ. 
    Pope Leo will visit Turkey between 27-30 November, the Vatican said on Tuesday (October 7), in his first visit outside Italy since he was inaugurated.
    On Friday, Pope Leo is expected to hold a prayer next to the submerged remains of the Basilica of Saint Neophytos. The basilica was discovered on the shore of the Iznik Lake in 2014 along with the Senate Palace, both of which are thought to be likely venues for the First Nicaea Council.
    The Hagia Sophia, which was built by Romans as a place of worship, then converted to a church and later into a mosque by the Ottomans, is believed to have hosted the Second Nicaea Council, which was the seventh ecumenical council. The structure is currently used as a mosque, containing Islamic symbols in the prayer area as well as ancient Christian frescoes, which are located in a smaller chamber.
    (Production: Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Omer Berberoglu, Ali Kucukgocmen)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register