Archaeologists have recently discovered what they believe to be one of the oldest Christian churches in the world.
The University of Münster announced the discovery of the fourth-century church in a press release on 11 October.
The school, which is based in Germany, worked closely with archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia to discover the ancient ruins.
Remains of ancient Christian buildings were found at the site of Artaxata in the Ararat plain.
Excavators have been digging there since 2018, but the remains were not found until recently.
“The discovery consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions,” the University of Münster reported.
“The team excavated parts of the church and studied it using geophysical methods.”
The press release continued, “Uniquely, this discovery matches early Christian monumental buildings.”
“In the cross-shaped expanse, researchers discovered the remains of wooden platforms, radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD”
The oldest Christian church buildings date from the 3rd and 4th centuries. The floor of the octagonal church of Artaxata was made of mortar and terracotta tiles and was about 100 feet in diameter.
Experts say there were also some pieces of marble imported from the Mediterranean, which indicate that the church was “lavishly decorated”.
“The fourth-century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country – sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia,” Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster said in a statement.
The discovery fits the bill in Armenia, which the University of Münster says was the first Christian state ever founded.
“According to legend, Gregory the Illuminator converted the Armenian king Tiridates III to Christianity in Artaxata in 301 AD, making Armenia the world’s first Christian state,” the school reported.
“The medieval monastery of Khor Virap, just a short distance from the now discovered church, is a reminder of this tradition. Artaxata served as the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, which was ruled by the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties,” the press release said.
“The city grew into an important metropolis in the Hellenistic period and was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia for nearly six centuries.”
