Different groups have their own churches. There’s a bunch of these old churches still hanging around today. Some of them have been there for ages, but not, like, forever. They’ve survived through all the years, though many had their looks changed or even got wrecked.
So, check this List of Top 10 Oldest Churches In The World
Church of the Nativity
This one’s also called the Basilica of the Nativity. Emperor Constantine, this Christian ruler, got it built back around 330 AD. It’s in Bethlehem, over in the West Bank of Palestine. And there’s this special cave in there that’s a big deal for Christians. They think it’s where Mary, you know, Jesus’ mom, had baby Jesus. This church is connected to a bunch of different Christian groups, like the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostle, and Syriac Orthodox churches.
St. Peter’s Basilica:
Big shoutout to this massive church that was built in the 4th century. Emperor Constantine was like . let’s make this to honor Saint Peter, a big deal in the early Christian scene.” The first version came together around 326 to 333. It’s, like, the biggest church in Vatican City and a major deal for Catholics worldwide.
| Church | Build Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Church of the Nativity | Around 330 AD | Bethlehem, West Bank |
| St. Peter’s Basilica | 4th century | Vatican City |
| Etchmiadzin Cathedral | Around 301-303 AD | Armenia |
| Trier Cathedral | 1235-1270 AD | Trier, Germany |
| Dura-Europos House Church | Around 233 AD | Dura Europos, Syria |
| Church of the Holy Sepulchre | Started from 326 AD | Jerusalem |
| Santa Maria in Trastevere | Around 3rd century AD | Rome |
| Hagia Sophia | Started in 360 AD, Completed in 537 AD | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Megiddo | 3rd century AD | Israel |
| Aqaba Church | Around 293-303 AD | Aqaba, Jordan |
Etchmiadzin Cathedral:
This is the granddaddy of all cathedrals in Armenia and across the globe. The Armenian Apostolic church hangs out here. It was up and running way back in 301 to 303. This dude Gregory the Illuminator started it all; he was the top dog of the Armenian church. But then in the 360s, the Persians messed it up, like majorly. They caused some damage. But later on, it got fixed up. It’s seen a ton of history and has had a bunch of remodels.
Trier Cathedral:
Talk about Germany’s OG church! This place has a mix of different styles in its design, like Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque vibes. It was first a thing around 270, but then the version we see today was built between 1235 and 1270. It’s had its ups and downs, getting torn down and fixed up a bunch. But it’s still rocking the church scene.
Dura-Europos House Church:
This one’s like a blast from the past, one of the earliest Christian joints ever. It started off as a regular house and then turned into a church. You can find it in Dura Europos, Syria. They put it together around 233 AD. But it didn’t last long, sadly. When things got rough in the area during a war, it got wiped out.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre:
This is a classic church in Jerusalem with a super long history. They started building it in 326 AD and finally finished in 335 AD. It’s had its fair share of damage and rebuilding. Lots of different Christian groups, like the Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and others, all use this place. It’s a big deal because they believe it’s where Jesus was crucified and buried.
Santa Maria in Trastevere:
Here’s one of Rome’s old-timers, one of the oldest churches around. They put it up around the 3rd century and wrapped it up by 340. It’s gone through a bunch of changes and expansions over time.
Hagia Sophia:
Let’s talk about this ancient church in Istanbul, Turkey. They started it in 360 AD and finished it in 537 AD. At first, it was a Christian church, but then it turned into a mosque. Now it’s a museum again. It’s known for looking super cool and having a crazy history.
Megiddo:
Even though it’s not around anymore, Megiddo was one of the first churches ever. It was built in Israel in the 3rd century AD. But it got taken down because Christians were facing a tough time with the Roman Empire.
Aqaba Church:
This one’s like the OG of OGs. It’s believed to be the oldest church ever, but there’s not much left of it now. It was in Aqaba, Jordan. It was around from about 293 to 303.
So there you have it, these churches have been holding it down for centuries. They’re like a time capsule of what people believed back then, and they’ve got stories that stretch all the way back.
