SMYRNA (Fides): “Pilgrimages to Nicaea are being organised from Smyrna, Istanbul, and other Turkish dioceses. And from abroad, representatives of parishes from all over the world are coming to what is now Iznik, which was once Nicaea,” Archbishop Martin Kmetec of Izmir [Smyrna] and president of the Turkish Bishops’ Conference, said.
“We eagerly await the official confirmation from the Holy See regarding Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Nicaea: his presence in Turkey will be a source of great joy and grace for us believers and for the entire nation,” Archbishop Kmetec said, commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea [325 AD], an event that draws the attention of Christian churches around the world to the city south of Istanbul on Lake Bursa.
The archbishop said, “The anniversary aroused great interest among the Christian community in Turkey and prompted us to explore the history of the Church in our region. Today we reflect on the treasure of faith we received from Nicaea: we are called to embrace it, preserve it, and apply it in our daily lives.”
Pilgrimages to Nicaea are being organised from Smyrna, Istanbul, and other Turkish dioceses. And from abroad, representatives of parishes from all over the world are coming to what is now Iznik, which was once Nicaea
Archbishop Martin Kmetec
He also pointed out that the anniversary is also being celebrated by the Orthodox Church “and is therefore an opportunity for ecumenical dialogue and unity.”
Referring to a recent ecumenical symposium held in Antalya, in which he participated, the Archbishop Kmetec remarked, “I found the perspective very significant because it helped us focus on the content of the faith we proclaim and live, that is, to reflect on the Incarnation of Christ, which expresses the gift of his divine and human nature. The gift given to us is salvation: today we are called to safeguard this gift and proclaim it to the world as Christians, Catholics and Orthodox together.”
The archbishop then noted: “Nicaea is not only a place for theological reflection: This council was also the fruit of the profound witness of faith by so many people who gave their lives for the faith in the first three centuries of Christianity.”
He said, “This witness, in a sense, prepared the outcome of the council. For us today, the memory of this witness of faith is the most important thing, because it inspires and strengthens us in the challenges we live in the present.”
The visit of Pope Leo is scheduled for November 30, the feast of St. Andrew, although the official announcement has yet to be made.
“We are awaiting him in Turkey,” Bishop Kmetec said.
