In the city of Kocaeli in northwestern Turkey, the first service was held for believers of the Russian Orthodox Church living in the Sea of Marmara region. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on March 4, 2023 by Priest Georgy Sergeev, who is responsible for the spiritual care of the Russian-speaking flock on the territory of the Republic of Turkey, Pravlife writes.

“At the end of the service, Father George held a meeting with the parishioners, during which he spoke about the life of the communities of the Moscow Patriarchate in Turkey, as well as about the relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople at the present time. During the conversation, further plans for the organization of regular services in the region were determined,” the report says.

The city of Kocaeli, known since the 3rd century BC as Nicomedia, was founded by the ancient Greeks. Located 120 kilometers from Istanbul on the coast of the Marmara Sea.

During the era of persecution, Nicomedia became the site of the martyrdom of many Christians, including the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, who was beheaded on April 23, 303, by order of Emperor Diocletian. Other saints were also martyred in Nicomedia: the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, the martyrs Trofim, Eusebius, Callista, Ermolai, Anfim, Bishop Babyla of Nicomedia and his 84 disciples. The total number of Christians affected is in the many thousands.

In the 14th century, the Ottoman Turks, who conquered the city, renamed it Izmit, and during the Turkish Republic – Kocaeli.