Istanbul, Turkey – Over four days, 22–25 October, more than 470 Christian leaders from around the world convened in Istanbul to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, a foundational statement of Christian faith established in 325AD.
The conference, held in a Muslim-majority country, was notable not only for its historical significance to the church but also for its diverse international participation. Attendees included speakers and teachers from Egypt, Dubai, Kenya, Italy, Russia, India, USA and the UK, offering rich teaching and reflections on the enduring relevance of the Creed.
A highlight of the event was a guided historical tour of ancient Nicea (modern-day İznik), where the original council took place. Participants also had access to a great offering of theological books, thanks to 10ofThose alongside a new Turkish publisher.
The gathering left many attendees, including myself, with a new appreciation for the Nicene Creed and its role in shaping Christian doctrine across centuries. I was stuck by the diversity of attendees especially from around the Middle East and Europe. The conference organisers worked hard to ensure there were different voices.
Plenary speakers included Mark Dever, Kevin DeYoung, Ligon Duncan, Sherif Fahim, Ken Mbugua, Al Mohler, Michael Reeves and Harshit Singh. en contributor Leonardo De Chirico was involved in one of the panel and breakout sessions.
Organisers explained that the aim of the conference was “to commemorate the heritage of the church, to remind us of the truth proclaimed through the ages, and to exhort us to proclaim and protect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Today, Turkey’s evangelical population is a very small minority, 7,000–10,000 people, who face challenges including social prejudice and government pressure. Despite being so small, the community is growing, with some churches establishing new congregations, and they are also active in disaster relief, such as after the 2023 earthquakes.
