The Rest of the Story of the Nicene Church

In a recent article by Christianity Today, the lament of the disappearance of the church in Nicaea was mentioned, with possible reasons why there is no church there today. What is the story about the disappearance of the church in modern Iznik?^[1]https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/05/nicene-church-disappeared-nicaea-iznik-turkey/

The Only Byzantine Church Today

The only standing Byzantine Nicene church building from ancient Nicaea is the Hagia Sophia in Iznik. The foundation of this building dates back to the 3rd or 4th century. When the Ottomans conquered the city, it was turned into a mosque. So for 700 years, it has not functioned as a church. Listed below are other external factors that affect the city.

Post-Ottoman Churches

Based on the list of the possible 19 religious sites found in Iznik, 14 are church buildings and at least 5 were small chapels. In my write-up on the Yeşil Cami Mosque complex, most of these buildings were likely abandoned in 1331, except for the Koimesis church complex, which is adjacent to the nearby Spring Chapel (Böcek Ayazma). These functioned till 1922.

Tragedy in 1922

At the end of World War I, the Greek army occupied the city of Iznik. They heavily damaged the Hagia Sophia and the Green Mosque (Yeşil Camii) in the town. In response to this, the Turkish army destroyed the Koimesis Church. The Greek neighborhood near the church most likely fled then, and since then, there has not been a functioning church in the city. The main picture on this site shows the remains as they are today.

Despite the 1927 date, this picture is from the 1880s. The church complex was destroyed in 1922. On the Byzantine Legacy site, you can find some amazing images of the mosaics that once adorned this church.

Today

The city is worth a visit, and most of the town can be explored on foot within a two-day stay. Here is a map of the majority of Byzantine sites.

Bishops formulated historical creeds in this city, and like them, we need to understand the distinction between Christian faith and Islamic ideas. See “Searching Below the Surface” to gain insights into these matters.

To pray for Türkiye, please see: