The oldest christian church in the world By the first century AD, there were already a number of religious sites in the Holy Land, but after the second century, the majority of Christian churches as we know them today started to spread around the world. These are the oldest christian church in the world, ranging from the well-known St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
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oldest church in the world
1. Etchmiadzin Cathedral (301)
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was dedicated in 301 AD and is thought to be the oldest Christian cathedral on Earth.Today, the main cathedral is nestled within well-kept gardens and hedges, encircled by more contemporary 19th-century structures. It consists of a Treasury holding several sacred relics, including the holy Lance and a piece of Noah’s ark, and a central dome covered in magnificent, sparkling murals.
During the Armenian Genocide, the cathedral housed Turkish Armenian refugees and is home to the Catholicos, the leader of the Armenian Church’s administrative branch. Today, the cathedral’s exquisitely designed gardens are home to a Genocide Monument.
2. Panagia Ekatontapiliani (326)
Known as “the Church with a Hundred Doors,” Panagia Ekatontapiliani is one of the most amazing examples of Paleo-Christian architecture in the Cyclades. Situated on the Greek island of Paros, the Ekatontapiliani complex consists of several chapels and churches, some of which date back to 326 AD.
Rumors abound that the complex has 99 doors. Discover the greatest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Agios Nikolaos, which features massive Parian marble columns and an antique Baptistery.
3. Mor Gabriel Monastery (397)
The Mor Gabriel Monastery is the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monastery on Earth, having been established in 397. Located in southeast Turkey on the Tur Abdin plateau, surrounded by undulating olive groves and orchards, this Christian church and its fortified compound have long been a haven for refugees.
Thousands of Coptic monks have found refuge and a place of worship at the monastery, also known as Deyrulumur, which once had its diocese. A few pious nuns and monks still reside at Dayro d-Mor Gabriel, which also serves as the metropolitan bishop of Turabdin’s seat. Guests can access it throughout the day, and overnight stays are possible, but only with prior authorization.
4. Monastery of Saint Anthony (356)
It started as a tiny, unofficial meeting of Saint Anthony’s disciples, the first Christian monk, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The meeting took place in a cave near the base of Gebel Al Galala Al Qibliya.
More than a hundred monks who have vowed to live a life of prayer and meditation in the solitude of the desert now reside at the monastery. They live in cells within the complex and continue the customs established by Saint Anthony’s initial adherents hundreds of years ago.
The primary reason people travel to this far-off region is to see the Monastery of St. Anthony, the oldest structure. Constructed above the saint’s grave, it holds an assemblage of ancient medieval Coptic wall paintings. Join the hundreds of pilgrims who come here every day for a tour of the monastery’s defensive walls, guided by resident monks.
5. Santa Maria in Trastevere (340)
One of the first chapels in Rome devoted to the Virgin Mary dates back to 340 and is located in Trastevere. The church’s earliest sections date to the third century, although its 12th-century additions include new characteristics. These consist of the stunning golden façade, several interior mosaics, and the Romanesque bell tower. The 18th century saw the addition of the entrance.
This Roman church entices historians and travelers from all over the world with its numerous intriguing highlights. Without a doubt, the masterpieces are the mosaics from the 12th century, which depict the life of the Virgin Mary in six breathtaking designs created by Pietro Cavallini.
6. Cathedral of Trier (340)
Over thousands of years, the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Trier has undergone expansions from its original construction in the fourth century. It is still Trier’s greatest ecclesiastical structure and Germany’s oldest bishop’s church. Beneath the cathedral is still one of the earliest Early Christian rooms north of the Alps, originally built as an ancient Christian church over a former palace.
7. Church of the Nativity (339)
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is commonly thought to be the birthplace of Jesus. Situated at the terminus of the well-traveled pilgrimage path, which is frequented by millions of people annually, it is the oldest continuously operating Christian church and one of the holiest sites on Earth.
The original floor mosaics and columns made of red and white limestone from the church destroyed during a revolt in the sixth century are still in the rebuilt church, constructed at the entrance to an old cave.
8. Church of the Holy Sepulchre (335)
The beige-colored Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is made of stone and wood, distinguished by a row of eye-catching arches decorated with Crusader crosses. Built on two of the most well-known locations in Christian history, the Tomb of the Sepulchre and the legendary Rock of Cavalry (Golgotha), where Christ was crucified, it was dedicated in 335.
Millions of people visit the church, also called the Church of the Resurrection, each year, making it one of Earth’s most visited pilgrimage destinations. Here are the final four or five stations of the Via Dolorosa, which depict the last moments of Jesus’ Passion.
9. St. Peter’s Basilica (333)
St. Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, is the most remarkable of all the religious structures. Highlights include the striking façade with its 13 statues, which include St. John the Baptist and Christ the Redeemer, and the Loggia della Benedizione, the center balcony, where the Pope addresses the audience on important occasions.
Also, Michelangelo’s dome is above Bernini’s Baldachin, a bronze sculpture created by the artist from the Pantheon. Climbers can reach the rooftop for breathtaking views over the Vatican and the surrounding area.
10. Stavrovouni Monastery (327-329)
At the summit of Stavrovouni, often known as the “Mountain of the Cross,” sits the perilously situated Stavrovouni Monastery. The main draw for pilgrims ascending this high mountain monastery is the fragment of the Holy Cross, preserved in solid silver and kept inside the church.
