Armenia's Historic Ruins May Reveal the Oldest Church in the First Christian Nation

Armenia, October 31, 2024: In a monumental discovery at Artaxata, Armenia, a joint team of German and Armenian researchers has unearthed what may be the oldest documented Christian church in Armenia, dating back to the fourth century. Armenia, recognized as the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 A.D., adds this historical find to its rich Christian heritage. The excavation, conducted by experts from the University of Münster and the Armenian Academy of Sciences, uncovered the church’s foundations buried near the ancient monastery of Khor Virap, a site tied to Armenia’s conversion story under St. Gregory the Illuminator.

This octagon-shaped church spans approximately 100 feet and is designed with cruciform annexes, a feature suggesting its significant role in early Christian worship. Preliminary radiocarbon dating of wooden samples from the structure places its construction around 350 A.D., corroborated by pottery and distinctive mortar techniques used in its architecture. This dating places the Artaxata church as the earliest archeologically verified Christian church in Armenia, predating other known Armenian Christian sites, including the famed Etchmiadzin Cathedral.

Interestingly, the church appeared to have met a violent end, with signs of deliberate destruction. Excavators noted smashed marble decorations, displaced floor tiles, fire damage, and collapsed roofing. Despite the destruction, remnants of decorative marble suggest a richly adorned structure, indicating the church’s importance in the religious life of ancient Armenia.

The Armenian-German Artaxata Project, ongoing since 2018, has made several significant finds in addition to the church, including an unfinished Roman aqueduct and the remains of a Hellenistic sanctuary and Urartian settlement. The excavation team includes 10 students from the University of Münster, along with specialized analysts who are studying materials such as pottery, roof tiles, and archeobotanical samples. Further studies will integrate data from excavation, geophysical surveys, and scientific analysis, promising a comprehensive understanding of the site and its place in Armenia's Christian history.

By Catholic Connect Reporter