Finding the 20 Byzantine Churches and Chapels of Nicaea

I heard one tour historian say there were at least 20 churches in this ancient city.[1] Let’s try to map them out. In my initial research, I found a dozen churches, but upon further investigation into the past, I believe I have identified 20 Byzantine sites within Iznik.

UNESCO says about ancient Nicaea, “Served as a capital city to Seljuk, Byzantine and Ottoman states respectively, Iznik bears exceptional testimony to early examples of cultural, architectural and artistic accomplishment of these cultures.” ^[1]https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5900/ During the early Byzantine period, the city became strategically important to theological development and the unity of the Nicene Creed, which was formed at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D..

Early Byzantine Churches of Nicaea

The earliest churches of Iznik are the famous ones. Yet, only one building remains standing and that is because the Hagia Sophia in Iznik was renovated in 2012, turning it again into a Mosque. The history of this building much like its name sake in Istanbul was a church for 1,000 years, 600 years a mosque, 75 years a museum and now again a mosque.

Most of the other churches offer remains that are either buried underground or exposed to the elements.

The Middle Byzantine Churches of Nicaea

The foundations of these churches remain exposed to the elements, with minimal brick walls still visible. Unfortunately, they are not locally labeled, but my walking tour map has marked them in their correct locations.

Late Byzantine Churches of Nicaea

Theater Byzantine Churches of Nicaea

The list below mentions 19 ancient Byzantine sites, but I believe the Yeşil Cami area formerly had a church. Some of the pillars of this mosque look Byzantine and some of the window settings could be from a church. Also, a church was found north of the city near the Elbeyli Yolu.^[2] … Continue reading

My references for these finds are the following:

https://kulturenvanteri.com/en/bolge/turkiye/marmara-bolgesi/bursa/iznik

W. RABBEL Et Al. , “Discovery of a Byzantine Church in Iznik/Nicaea, Turkey: an Educational Case History of Geophysical Prospecting with Combined Methods in Urban Areas,” ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION , vol.22, no.1, pp.1-20, 2015

THE PROCEEDING OF INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP: LOCALISATION OF THE 1st COUNCIL PALACE in NICAEA EDITED BY MUSTAFA ~SHAHiN – i. HAKAN MERT.

Halûk Çetinkaya (Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul) BYZANTINE CHURCHES OF NICAEA, 2021.

Discovery of a Byzantine Church in Iznik/Nicaea, Turkey: an Educational Case History of Geophysical Prospecting with Combined Methods in Urban Areas , 2014.

[1] R. Janin, Les Églises et les monastéres des grands centres Byzantins, Paris 1975 – this writing says there are 26… but a lesser number for those within the historic walls.