Orthodox and Catholic Pilgrims Recite Creed at Site of First Ecumenical Council

Cardinal Tobin (left) and Archbishop Elpidophoros (middle) recite the Creed with pilgrims in Iznik. Photo: Brittainy Newman/Orthodox Observer

IZNIK — On the shores of Lake İznik - ancient Nicaea - Orthodox and Catholic pilgrims commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea by solemnly reciting the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

Led by Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Catholic Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the gathering took place at the historic site where the First Ecumenical Council convened in 325, despite the near-total erasure of the city’s visible Christian past due to centuries of persecution and religious conversions.

Pilgrims spent the day walking in the footsteps of Emperor Constantine and St. Athanasius of Alexandria, visiting the council site, Nicaea’s ancient walls, and the Church of Holy Wisdom - now a mosque. Along the route to Bursa, Archbishop Elpidophoros offered historical reflections on the Council’s major achievements, including its condemnation of Arianism, affirmation of Christ’s full divinity, and the initial formulation of the Creed still central to Christian liturgy today.

Photo: Brittainy Newman/Orthodox Observer

He also shared promising news: the Turkish government has agreed to allow restoration efforts at certain Christian heritage sites - an initiative the archbishop began while serving as Metropolitan of Bursa.

"Today, Archbishop Elpidophoros and Cardinal Tobin traveled the road to Nicaea as fellow archbishops, not of the same tradition yet following the same Spirit of unity," reporting from the Orthodox Observer stated.

Previously, UOJ reported that Cardinal Tobin had recited the Creed without the Filioque during Divine Liturgy at the Phanar.

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