Early Christian Period martyrdoms and Lake İznik Basilica Church's martyrdom

The city of Nikaia has been the scene of many important events throughout history, especially in the Early Christian period, hosting two councils, which increased its reputation even more. It is understood from the martyred saints that there was a serious Christian population in the city before the Council period and Christianity was liberated by Constantine the Great. Accordingly, it has been tried to determine that the pastophoria room, which is located in the Lake Iznik Underwater Basilica Church and was called the diaconicon at first, was built and used as a martyrium in the Early Christian period. The space, with its architecture, stone row, masonry, interior decoration, tombs and finds, has been compared with the first independent martyriums built in the west and east, which were examined in situ. When the basilical main building architecture is compared with the church examples added to these martyriums in the historical process, it has been understood that it is similar to the eastern martyrium-church architecture, especially in the Cilicia and Syria regions. However, the basilica church, which is surprising to be found so far to the north, was supported by the finds that were dated as well as the architecture of the place and the ancient history of the city; It is associated with the fact that the building was built for St. Neophytos, the martyr saint was martyred outside the city, by the lake, and a church was built on the place where he was buried.