St. Neophytos of Nicaea

The Holy Martyr Neophytos was born in Nicaea of Bythinia to Christian parents who were named Theodore and Florentia. During the persecution of Diocletian he went to Nicaea and boldly denounced the pagan faith. He was killed by Roman soldiers in A.D. 303, 10 years before the Edict of Milan permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire. His feast day is commemorated on January 21.

In 2014 an underwater Byzantine basilica dedicated in his honour was discovered in Lake Iznik. The basilica had been built in the place where he was killed on the shore of the lake and subsequently became submerged after an earthquake.