On November 28th, our Veroli Foundation had the extraordinary pleasure of participating in a historic event – the visit of Pope Leo to the basilica in Iznik. We were honored to witness this unique moment and also gave several interviews to Polish Radio, BBC, and Reuters about our ongoing archaeological research in Iznik. Our main goal is to find the imperial palace, which, according to sources, was the site of the famous Council of Nicaea.

During the visit, Pope Leo XIV was to be given our latest archaeological report, summarizing the results of our research to date. It was a great honor to prepare such a study for such a distinguished guest. We are already getting ready for an exhibition at the Vatican, where we will present the results of our research to a wider international audience!

We are also supporting Prof. Sahin, who is conducting detailed archaeological studies on the basilica site – it was there that the solemn mass led by the Pope took place. It is worth recalling that Leo visited Iznik to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and to emphasize the importance of this place for Christian history.

The basilica in Iznik is one of the proposed locations of the imperial palace, but our current archaeological knowledge suggests that it was built approximately 70 years after the council and was named the Basilica of Saint Neophytos. We are still searching for the Church of the Holy Fathers – perhaps it is the present basilica, or perhaps it is located elsewhere entirely. This remains an open subject for further research and discussion.

According to historical sources, the council took place in the imperial palace. Some accounts say that the palace was later converted into the Church of the Holy Fathers, while others suggest that it remained a palace and was renovated by Justinian. There is still much work and research ahead of us to confirm or dismiss the hypothesis that the palace was located on the site of the present basilica.

We are delighted to be able to share the results of our research during such important events, and we look forward with great anticipation to further discoveries in Iznik!

On November 21, 2025, a unique conference took place in Iznik, bringing together scholars and history enthusiasts from around the world. The event was organized to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the upcoming visit of Pope Leo, which was scheduled for a week later. Among the invited guests was our Veroli Foundation, whose representatives actively participated in the conference.

Our representative was the distinguished scientific expert and head of the archaeological team, Prof. Błażej Stanisławski. During his lecture titled “The Location of the Imperial Palace in Nicaea in Light of New Multidisciplinary Research,” the professor presented the results of the latest analyses carried out using state-of-the-art technologies. He discussed seven previous concepts regarding the location of the palace from the year 325, and also introduced a new, eighth hypothesis. He explained which proposed locations have been rejected and why, which ones still await verification, and which require more thorough research.

There was also great interest in the presentation by our friendly scientific expert, Dr. Przemysław Szewczyk. In his lecture, “How Did the Council of Nicaea Become ‘Anti-Arian’? – A Review of Ancient Records about the Council,” Dr. Szewczyk introduced participants to historical sources and circumstances that contributed to the Council of Nicaea becoming a key event in the struggle against Arianism.

The presentations by the outstanding members of our Veroli Foundation were met with recognition and great interest from the participants of this exceptional event. It was a great honor for us to share our knowledge and discoveries at such a prestigious gathering!

On November 28, 2025, Pope Leo arrives in Iznik—a small Turkish town that centuries ago was known as Nicaea. Why there, exactly? What makes the eyes of the entire Christian world turn that day to a place that many of us know little about? Exactly 1,700 years ago, at the initiative of Emperor Constantine the Great, something happened here that forever changed the history of the Church and Europe. What was the mysterious First Nicaea? What secrets does this ancient city hold? What do we know today about those events? An eminent expert on the subject tells us all about it!