Archaeologists in Turkey have made a remarkable discovery, unearthing a fresco depicting Jesus with Roman features as the “Good Shepherd.” This find is being celebrated as a significant contribution to our understanding of early Christian art from Anatolia.
Uncovered in August, the fresco was located in an underground tomb near Iznik, the historic site where the Nicene Creed was established in A.D. 325. The tomb is believed to date back to the third century, a period when the region was part of the Roman Empire and Christians were often persecuted for their beliefs.
In a recent development, archaeologists have been meticulously cleaning and restoring the frescoes within this ancient tomb, located in Iznik, Turkey, as of Friday, December 12, 2025. The Associated Press was the first international news outlet granted access to the site.
The fresco features a youthful, clean-shaven Jesus, clad in a toga and carrying a goat on his shoulders. Researchers have noted that this depiction is particularly rare for Anatolia, as it presents Jesus with distinctly Roman characteristics.
The lead archaeologist on the team has suggested that this artwork might be the “only example of its kind in Anatolia,” highlighting its uniqueness and importance in the study of early Christian iconography.
A fresco depicting Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” adorns the wall of a 3rd-century tomb in Hisardere, where archaeologists uncovered one of Anatolia’s best-preserved early Christian artworks, in Iznik, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Khalil Hamra/AP Phto)
Pope Leo XIV recently visited the town as part of his first overseas trip since taking the helm of the Vatican. While in Iznik, Pope Leo XIV marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which set forth the Nicene Creed that millions of Christians still read today.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes Pope Leo XIV (R) with an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye, on Nov. 27, 2025. (Utku Ucrak/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented a tile painting of the “Good Shepherd” discovery to the pope, according to the AP.
While in Turkey, Pope Leo XIV was joined by Eastern and Western patriarchs and priests as they prayed that Christians would one day be united once again. They prayed together over the site where the council produced the Nicene Creed. The men recited the creed, which the pope said was “of fundamental importance in the journey that Christians are making toward full communion,” according to the AP.
