Posted on 06/28/2017 6:49:52 PM PDT by marshmallow
Archaeologists in Turkey suspect the church may have been built in the year 325, following the First Council of Nicaea.
The remains of a 1,600-year-old Byzantine basilica have been discovered at the site of the Councils of Nicaea, at the bottom of a lake in northwest Turkey.
“We have found church remains. It is in a basilica plan and has three naves,” said Mustafa Şahin, an archaeology professor at Bursa Uludağ University, told Hurriyet News.
Plans are now underway to open an underwater museum to allow tourists to view the foundation of the church, which was found lying in 5-7 feet of water in Lake Iznik, in Bursa, Turkey.
The ancient basilica was discovered by aerial photographs taken in 2014 during an inventory of historical and cultural artifacts, according to an article in Hurriyet News.
History of the underwater basilica
According to Sahin, the church was most likely built in the 4th century, in honor of St. Neophytos who was martyred during the time of Roman emperor Diocletian in 303.
Neophytos had travelled to Nicaea (now modern-day northwest Turkey) to denounce the pagan faith during the Diocletian persecution. The basilica was built on the spot where he was killed by Roman soldiers in a most brutal manner:
(Excerpt) Read more at aleteia.org ...
By muslims, over Christian ruins?
They must think it was really some sort of pre-mosque, or something.
Calls began immediately to turn it into a mosque.
ML/NJ
LOL I was wondering when those glaciers started to melt.
Found in 5 to 7 foot water?
A $25 fish finder could have seen it 30 years ago!
bookmark
WHAT LAKE?????
Lake Iznik.
THANK YOU!!
Is the lake man made or natural? If natural, who caused it? Global warming??
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