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Basilica of Saint Neophytos

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Basilica of Saint Neophytos
Map
General information
AddressLake İznik, İznik, Bursa, Türkiye
Year(s) builtLate fourth–early fifth century C.E
Demolished740
Known forThought to be the venue of First Council of Nicaea.

Basilica of Saint Neophytos is the name of a defunct, underwater basilica in Lake İznik, modern-day Turkey. Coordinates: 40.4258225,29.7095841 visible just off shore.

History

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In 2014 the underwater Byzantine Basilica of Saint Neophytos, dedicated to Saint Neophytos, was discovered in Lake İznik, modern-day Turkey. The basilica had been built in the place where he was killed on the shore of the lake and subsequently became submerged after an earthquake AD740.[1][2]

It is possible, according to researchers, that the basilica was built as a result of the First Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine the Great in the year 325.[3]

Its discovery was included in the list of top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2014 released by Archaeological Institute of America.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Basilica in Lake İznik to become underwater museum". Hürriyet Daily News. 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  2. ^ https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/underwater-st-neophytos-basilica-resurfaces-with-retreat-of-lake-iznik Underwater St. Neophytos basilica resurfaces with retreat of Lake Iznik
  3. ^ "1,600-year-old Byzantine basilica found under water in Turkey--Aleteia". aleteia.org. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  4. ^ "Basilica buried under water among the top 10 archeological discoveries of 2014". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2018-09-19.

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[1] PBS video "Secrets of the Dead: The Sunken Basilica"

[2] Google Maps URL close up of site.