A solemn Eucharistic celebration and the dedication of the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity, belonging to the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul, took place on Friday, 6 November 2026, in İznik, Türkiye, the ancient city of Nicaea, one of the most significant places in the history of Christianity.
The Holy Mass was presided over by His
Excellency Archbishop Salvatore (Rino) Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Section
for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World of the
Dicastery for Evangelization of the Holy See.
He was joined by several bishops and
ecclesiastical representatives from different Catholic traditions, whose
presence gave the celebration a distinctive international and ecclesial
character.
Among the concelebrants were:
His Excellency Archbishop Martin Kmetec,
O.F.M. Conv., Metropolitan Archbishop of İzmir;
His Excellency Bishop Massimiliano
Palinuro, Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul;
His Excellency Bishop Antuan Ilgit, S.J.,
Auxiliary Bishop and Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of
Anatolia;
The Very Reverend Msgr. Orhan Abdulahad
Çanli, Patriarchal Exarch of the Syriac Catholic Church in Türkiye;
The Very Reverend Archpriest Mikael
(Mikail) Uçar, representing the Armenian ecclesiastical leadership, headed by
Archbishop Vartan Kirakos Kazanjian;
His Excellency Bishop Juan Carlos Barreto
Barreto, Bishop of the Diocese of Soacha, Colombia.
The participation of these ecclesiastical
representatives highlighted the universality of the Catholic Church and the
importance of communion, fraternity and Christian witness, particularly in a
place so deeply connected with the origins and development of Christian
doctrine.
The dedication of the Chapel of the Most
Holy Trinity carries profound spiritual and historical significance. Located
within the territory of the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul, the chapel stands
in a city known in antiquity as Nicaea, which occupies a unique place in
Christian history as the location of the First Ecumenical Council, convened in
AD 325 under Emperor Constantine the Great.
It was at this council that the bishops of
the Christian world addressed fundamental questions concerning the identity of
Jesus Christ and His relationship with God the Father. The Council's
deliberations resulted in the formulation of the Nicene Creed, a foundational
profession of Christian faith that continues to unite Christians across
different ecclesial traditions.
The dedication of a chapel to the Most
Holy Trinity in this historic city is therefore a particularly meaningful
spiritual gesture. It recalls the central mystery of the Christian faith and
the enduring significance of the Nicene profession of faith, while providing a
place of prayer, worship and encounter for the faithful and pilgrims visiting
this historic site.
Following the Eucharistic celebration, the
participants visited several important historical and archaeological sites
associated with the Christian and cultural heritage of İznik.
The programme included a visit to the
archaeological remains of the ancient Roman Theatre of Nicaea (İznik Roma
Tiyatrosu), situated opposite the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity. This
important archaeological monument offers valuable insight into the urban,
cultural and social life of ancient Nicaea during the Roman period.
The participants also visited the historic
Hagia Sophia of İznik, today known as the Aya Sofya Mosque. Originally
constructed as a Byzantine church, this monument holds exceptional importance
in the history of Christianity as the location associated with the Second
Council of Nicaea in AD 787, also recognised as the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
This council addressed the controversy
surrounding the veneration of sacred images and icons, affirming their
legitimate place in the life and worship of the Church. Its decisions remain of
considerable importance for the Catholic and Orthodox traditions and for the
wider Christian understanding of sacred art and the veneration of holy images.
The visit offered an opportunity to recall
the theological and spiritual significance of the Second Council of Nicaea and
its contribution to the development of Christian doctrine.
The final part of the visit included the
archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos, located near
the shores of Lake İznik.
This site is of particular interest
because of its proposed connection with the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325.
According to an archaeological hypothesis advanced by researchers investigating
the site, the remains of the basilica may be associated with the place where
the bishops gathered during the First Ecumenical Council.
Standing at this historic location, the
participants were reminded of the extraordinary legacy of the bishops who
gathered in Nicaea seventeen centuries ago to profess and defend the
fundamental truths of Christianity.
The Eucharistic celebration and the
dedication of the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity, together with the visits to
the principal historical and archaeological sites of İznik, constituted a
significant spiritual and ecclesial occasion.
The presence of bishops and
representatives of different Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdictions and
traditions offered a visible expression of the Church's universality and its
commitment to preserving the common Christian heritage.
In a city that witnessed two of the most
important ecumenical councils in the history of Christianity, the celebration
of the Eucharist and the dedication of a new chapel to the Most Holy Trinity
served as a reminder that the faith professed at Nicaea continues to be a
living source of communion, hope and Christian witness.
The occasion also reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding the historical and spiritual heritage of Nicaea and ensuring that this extraordinary place continues to inspire dialogue, fraternity and unity among Christians throughout the world.
