Archaeologists have uncovered a fresco depicting Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” with a Roman appearance, and this find is being celebrated as one of the most significant discoveries from Anatolia’s early Christian era.
The artwork was located in August in an underground tomb near the town of Iznik—where a foundational statement of Christian belief was adopted in A.D. 325. The tomb is thought to date back to the third century, when the region was still part of the Roman Empire and Christians faced persecution.
According to [missing reference], the first international media organization granted access to the tomb, the fresco features a young, clean-shaven Jesus wearing a toga and carrying a goat on his shoulders. The outlet noted that researchers say the fresco is one of the rare instances in Anatolia where Jesus is portrayed with Roman attributes.
A member of the project team believes the artwork could be “the only example of its kind in Anatolia,” the AP reported.
Pope Leo XIV recently visited the town as part of his first overseas trip since taking leadership of the Vatican. While in Iznik, he marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which established the Nicene Creed—still recited by millions of Christians today.
A tile painting of the “Good Shepherd” discovery was presented to the pope, according to the AP.
While in Turkey, [missing reference] was joined by Eastern and Western patriarchs and priests as they prayed for the future unity of Christians. They prayed together at the site where the council produced the Nicene Creed. The group recited the creed, which the pope described as “of fundamental importance in the journey that Christians are making toward full communion,” the AP reported.