Archaeologists Just Discovered a Christian Church from the 4th Century—One of the Oldest in the World
- Archaeologists discovered a fourth-century Christian church that is considered to be Armenia's oldest.
- Armenia is considered the first Christian country globally after King Tiridates III converted to Christianity.
- The octagonal shape of the building was not typical around here, but it was found in many churches worldwide because the number eight had special significance in the Bible.
These structures were often shaped like an octagon, a shape that symbolized the early Christian church's belief in the resurrection of Jesus and, more generally, the renewal of life.
Archaeologists have found such a building in the ancient city of Artaxata in Armenia, which is believed to be the world's first Christian state.
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Octagonal churches were previously unheard of here," said Mkrtich Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences in Armenia in a statement, "but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the fourth century AD.
By the fourth century, the form became a widespread standard structure for early churches.
Researchers in Armenia found a fourth-century AD archaeological site with an approximately 100-foot-diameter, eight-sided structure made of terracotta and mortar, having a simple floor. Excavations revealed remains of wooden platforms attached to the four quadrants of the site, resembling a cross shape. The archaeologists also discovered fragments of marble, indicating that the church was likely decorated with expensive materials brought in from the Mediterranean.
Scholars believe that Gregory the Illuminator converted Armenia's King Tiridates III to Christianity at Artaxata in 301 AD, making Armenia the first Christian state in the world. The city of Artaxata, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, served as a key stronghold in the region for many centuries and would logically be the location of a church. It's also worth noting that the nearby medieval monastery of Khor Virap was also discovered at this site.
A team of German and Armenian archaeologists have been studying the site of Artaxata in the Ararat region since 2018, and specifically, the excavation team has been working at the site where they found the church since September. Their goal is to learn more about the church, including who it was built in honor of.
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