Ecumenical prayer in Iznik to commemorate the First council of Nicaea

1 Dec 2025

On Friday, 28 November, as part of his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon, the Holy Father made a pilgrimage to Iznik, where he participated in an ecumenical prayer meeting near the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytus.

In his address, referring to the common Christological faith defined by the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, Pope Leo XIV emphasised that " with an awareness that we are already linked by such a profound bond, we can continue our journey of ever deeper adherence to the Word of God revealed in Jesus Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in mutual love and dialogue. In this way, we are all invited to overcome the scandal of the divisions that unfortunately still exist and to nurture the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life”

In addition to His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch, the following Church leaders and representatives participated in the prayer meeting:

Orthodox Churches

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa: His Beatitude Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East: His Eminence Basil, Metropolitan of Arcadia, accompanied by Revd El Mecherki Maher and Mr Carol Saba
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem: His Eminence Nektarios, Archbishop of Anthidon

Oriental Orthodox Churches

Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East: His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II, accompanied by His Eminence Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktaş, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Tur Abdin and Superior of the Monastery of Mor Gabriel; and His Eminence Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria: His Excellency Bishop Anba Barnaba El Soryany, Bishop of Turin
Armenian Apostolic Church – Catholicossate of Holy Etchmiadzin: His Beatitude Sahak II Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Türkiye, accompanied by The Most Reverend Archbishop Aram Ateşyan
Armenian Apostolic Church – Catholicossate of Cilicia: His Excellency Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, Catholicosal Vicar in Cyprus
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church: His Holiness Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East, accompanied by His Eminence Abrahm Mar Stephanos, Metropolitan of UK, Europe and Africa, and Fr Aswin Zefrin Fernandis, Secretary, Department of Ecumenical Relations
Assyrian Church of the East: His Grace Mar Awraham Youkhanis, Bishop of London

Christian World Communions and Ecumenical Organisations

Anglican Communion: The Right Reverend Anthony Poggo, General Secretary
Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference Union of Utrech: The Right Reverend Dirk Jan Schoon,
Lutheran World Federation: Reverend Prof. Dr Dirk Lange
World Communion of Reformed Churches: Reverend Philip Vinod Peacock, General Secretary
World Methodist Council: Reverend Dr Reynaldo Leão-Néto, General Secretary
Baptist World Alliance: Prof. Dr Valerie Duval Poujol
Mennonite World Conference: Reverend César García, General Secretary
Pentecostal World Fellowship International Office: Reverend Prof. Opoku Onyinah
World Evangelical Alliance: Reverend Botrus Mansour, General Secretary
World Council of Churches: Reverend Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, General Secretary