Archaeologists discover one of the oldest Christian churches in the world

A team of archaeologists has unearthed the remains of a 4th-century Christian church, hidden for centuries beneath the Ararat plain in Armenia. But what makes this find so extraordinary? This ancient octagonal structure, adorned with terracotta tiles and marble fragments, could rewrite a chapter of Christian history, shedding light on the very first Christian communities in one of the oldest places of worship ever found. This ancient structure offers a new look at the origins of Christianity.

Artaxata: a discovery in the heart of Armenia

Since 2018, the University of Münster has collaborated with the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia on archaeological excavations in the Ararat plain. Only recently, however, have traces of this Christian building emerged, an octagonal structure with cross-shaped extensions. The church, furnished with terracotta tiles and fragments of Mediterranean marble, features wooden platforms dating back to the 4th century.

According to scholars, this is the oldest church discovered in Armenia. The country is known to have adopted Christianity as the state religion in 301 AD, thanks to the conversion of King Tiridates III at the hands of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, as explained by Professor Achim Lichtenberger and Dr. Mkrtich H. Zardaryan:

Octagonal buildings like this were not known in Armenia, but are common in the 4th-century eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, elements typical of Christian memorial buildings were found in the church, such as wooden platforms dating back to the mid-4th century.

The nearby Khor Virap monastery is testimony to this. This structure opens a glimpse into an era in which Christianity took its first steps in the world.