Early Christians had gathered in neighborhood homes known as house churches before churches existed. The meaning of the word ‘church’ is ‘assembly’ even though we use it to represent the entire Christian community, and also the facility where the faithful assemble for the celebration of the liturgy.
There were already several religious centers in the Holy Land but most of the Christian churches, as we know them today, came into existence by the 1st century AD. Here are a few ancient churches in the world.
Etchmiadzin Cathedral (301)
Consecrated in 301 AD, the Etchmiadzin Cathedral is believed to be the oldest Christian cathedral on Earth, and considered as the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The original church was built over a pagan temple at a time when Christianity became the state religion. But later the church fell into disrepair. It has been rebuilt several times during different centuries – therefore showcasing a mixture of several styles of Armenian architecture.
The cathedral hosts the Catholicos, the administrative head of the Armenian Church, and served as a refuge for Turkish Armenian refugees during the Armenian Genocide. Today, a Genocide Monument can be found within beautifully landscaped gardens of the cathedral.
2. Panagia Ekatontapiliani (326)
The Panagia Ekatontapiliani, which means ‘the Church with a Hundred Doors,’ is one of the most incredible Paleo-Christian monuments of the Cyclades. This is located on the island of Paros in Greece. The complex of Ekatontapiliani encompasses a series of churches and chapels, some of which date back to 326 AD.
According to a legend, there were 99 doors within the complex. The last, a secret door, will open when the church of Hagia Sofia in Constantinople is once again Orthodox. Explore the main church of the Virgin Mary, Agios Nikolaos – the largest – with its enormous Parian marble columns and the ancient Baptistery.
3. Stavrovouni Monastery (327-329)
The Stavrovouni Monastery is perched precariously at the top of Stavrovouni, the ‘Mountain of the Cross’. Built sometime between 327 and 329, this ancient monastery is believed to be the oldest on the island of Cyprus.
The relic of the Holy Cross is preserved in a solid silver container inside the church. It was supposedly brought back by St. Helena – the mother of Emperor Constantine – after her travels to Jerusalem.
While women are not permitted to enter the monastery, the trip is worth it for the views of the Mesaoria plain alone, stretching towards the Mediterranean in the distance. While male visitors explore the monastery with its bell tower and arched cloisters, female visitors can visit the smaller Church of the All Saints just outside.
4. St. Peter’s Basilica (333)
St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City is located within a city-state. Dating back to 333 albeit rebuilt in the 16th century. And it’s the largest – and one of the oldest – basilicas in Rome and is believed to have been built over the tomb of St. Peter.
Highlights include the central balcony, known as the Loggia della Benedizione, where the Pope speaks to the public on special occasions, and the impressive façade with its 13 statues, including St. John the Baptist and Christ the Redeemer. Within the walls of the enormous church, there are some extraordinary works of art – most notably Michelangelo’s riveting Renaissance sculpture, Pieta (meaning ‘Pity’) that represents the Madonna mourning the loss of the son she holds in her lap – a sculpture worth hundreds of millions.
5. Church of the Holy Sepulcher (335)
Crafted out of wood and stone, the beige-colored Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is marked by a series of striking arches adorned with Crusader crosses. Consecrated in 335, it’s built over two of the most famous sites in Christianity’s history – the biblical Rock of Cavalry (Golgotha) where Christ was nailed to the cross, and the Tomb of the Sepulcher.
Also known as the Church of the Resurrection. It is the church, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites on Earth.
6. Church of the Nativity (339)
Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity is widely believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. This church is visited by millions of people every year and it is located at the end of the well-trodden pilgrimage route. The Church of the Nativity is one of the holiest places of Christianity on Earth, and the oldest Christian church still in use.
7. Cathedral of Trier (340)
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Trier was built in the 4th century and has been expanded over the course of thousands of years. It stays as the oldest bishop’s church in Germany and the largest religious building in Trier. Formerly it was a palace that was later converted into an ancient Christian church, one of the first Early Christian rooms north of the Alps can still be found beneath the cathedral.
The pride and joy of the Cathedral of Trier is the sacred ‘Holy Robe’ found here that is believed to contain fragments of the tunic of Christ. First mentioned by religious scholars in the 12th-century, it was discovered hundreds of years later when the high altar was opened. This ancient Christian relic remains locked away in an annex and is only exposed on very special occasions.
8. Santa Maria in Trastevere (340)
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, is one of the earliest churches in Rome. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The oldest parts of the church date back to the 3rd century and the additional features were added in the 12th century. The Romanesque bell tower, a series of interior mosaics, and a beautiful golden façade were added and the portico was added in the 18th century.
9. Monastery of Saint Anthony (356)
The Monastery of Saint Anthony dates back to 4th century, and it had humble beginnings as an informal gathering of the followers of Saint Anthony – the first Christian monk. The saint gathered in a small cave at the foot of Gebel Al Galala Al Qibliya in Egypt’s Eastern Desert. Slowly, the compound extended to include five historic churches, a bakery, a library, and a garden oasis within fortified walls.
Today, the monastery is home for over 100 monks, who have chosen a life of meditation and prayer in the isolation of the desert. They live in cells inside the complex and still practice the traditions started by the original followers of Saint Anthony thousands of years ago.
10. Mor Gabriel Monastery (397)
The Mor Gabriel Monastery is the oldest functioning Syriac Orthodox monastery left on Earth. It was built in 397 AD and Perched on the Tur Abdin plateau amongst rolling orchards and olive groves in south-eastern Turkey. This is a Christian church and the fortress-like compound has long served as a place of refuge.
The monastery is also known as Deyrulumur. Thousands of Coptic monks lived there. In the 14th century, it was invaded by Timur Mongols, and in the 1990s, hundreds of monks were discovered buried in caves beneath the building.
Today, Dayro d-Mor Gabriel is still home to a handful of dutiful monks and nuns and is the seat of the metropolitan bishop of Turabdin. It’s open to visitors during daylight hours. If you like to stay overnight, you should take prior permission.
It must be the oldest building that was built over the saint’s tomb. It is home to a collection of age-old medieval Coptic wall paintings.