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HISTORICAL CHURCHES

Iran Daily
Jan 8 2014

A majority of churches in Iran, which are of historical and artistic
importance, were built around 14th century CE and later.

Of course, this does not mean that there were no churches in the
country before that period.

In fact, the policies of Shah Abbas, the Safavid king, caused a sizable
number of Christians from Armenia and Azerbaijan to move and settle
in Isfahan and other regions of Iran, IranReview reported.

These migrating people settled in a place called Jolfa on the banks
of Zayandehroud River in Isfahan.

Consequently, churches were erected in that town. After a short lapse
of time, some Armenians moved to Gilan and some moved to Shiraz.

After the death of Shah Abbas I, his successor, Shah Abbas II, also
paid close attention to the welfare of Christians and more churches
were erected in Jolfa.

The influx of many Europeans during the Qajarid rule led to
the flourishing of other churches, in addition to those that were
constructed previously. A number of these edifices are of architectural
and artistic significance.

Hub of churches

East Azarbaijan province is host to the oldest churches in Iran. Among
the most significant are the St. Tatavous Cathedral, which is also
called Qara Kelissa (the black monastery). This is located at the
Siahcheshmeh border area south of Makou.

Another church known as Saint Stepanous is located 24 kilometers
south of Jolfa.

Generally, each church has a large hall for congregational prayers;
its foremost part is raised like a dais, adorned with the pictures
or images of religious figures and it also serves as an altar.

Here, candles are lighted and the church mass is conducted by the
priest. On the foreground is the praying congregation that faces the
platform where the priest is leading the rites in the church. This
is similar to the Muslim practice of praying facing the niche in
the mosque.

While the mass is being said, the people stand, kneel or sit depending
on what the rites require.

The structure of churches in Iran follows more or less the pattern of
Iranian architecture, or they are a mixture of Iranian and non-Iranian
designs.

St. Tatavous Church in Tehran

This edifice is located at Chaleh-Maidan, one of the oldest districts
of Tehran. It lies south of Seyyed Esmail Mausoleum, at the beginning
of the northern part of Armenians' Street.

The oldest church of Tehran was built during the reign of Qajar king,
Fath-Alishah. The building has a dome and four alcoves, an altar and
a special chair reserved for the Armenian religions leader or prelate.

The vestibule leading to the church contains the graves of prominent
non-Iranian Christians who died in Iran, and in the middle of
the churchyard, Gribaydof, the Czarist ambassador at the court of
Fathalishah, and his companions are laid to rest. They were killed
by the revolutionary forces of Tehran at that time.

In Bushehr, a church from the Qajar period is a good specimen of
Iranian architecture. All the windows are modeled after old Iranian
buildings and the colored panes are purely Iranian artwork.

St. Stepanous Church in Jolfa

This is another old church located at an intersection west of
Marand-Jolfa Highway and east of Khoy-Jolfa Road. Also having a
pyramidal dome, it is quite beautiful and far more pleasant to behold
than St. Tatavous church.

Its structure mostly resembles Armenian and Georgian architecture,
and the inside of the building is adorned with beautiful paintings
by Honatanian, a renowned Armenian artist.

Hayk Ajimian, an Armenian scholar and historian, recorded that the
church was originally built in 9th century CE, but repeated earthquakes
in the region completely destroyed the previous structure.

The church was rebuilt during the rule of Shah Abbas II.

St. Mary's Church in Tabriz

This church was built in 12th century CE. In his travel chronicles,
Marco Polo, the famous Venetian traveler who lived during 14th century
CE, mentions this church on his way to China.

For many years, Saint Mary's served as the seat of the Armenian
archbishop based in the region. It is a handsome edifice, with
different annexed buildings sprawled on a large area. A board of
Armenian peers governs the well-attended church.

Aside from the above three churches, there are others in the province
such as the old church built in Modjanbar Village, which is 50
kilometers from Tabriz.

Another one is the large Saint Sarkis Church, situated in Khoy,
which has survived from the time of Shah Abbas II.

St. Tatavous Cathedral

Initially, this church comprised a small hall with a pyramidal dome
on top and 12 crevices similar to the Islamic dome-shaped buildings
from the Mongol era. The difference was that the church dome was made
of stone.

The main part of this pyramidal structure followed Byzantine (Eastern
Roman) architecture, including the horizontal and parallel fringes
made of white and black stones in the interior and black stones of
the building's facade.

Since the facade is dominated by black stones, the church was formerly
called Qara Kelissa (or black monastery) by the natives.

During the reign of Fath-Alishah, new structures were added to St.

Tatavous Church upon the order of Abbas Mirza, the crown prince,
and the governor of the region.

The renovations resulted in the enlargement of the prayer hall and
the small old church was converted into a prayer platform, holding
the altar, the holy ornaments and a place where the priest could lead
the prayers.

The bell tower and the church entrance were situated at one side of
the new building, but unfortunately, this part remained incomplete.

Meanwhile, due to border skirmishes and other political disturbances
in the area, the church was abandoned and ruined. Some minor repairs
have been carried out in recent years.

Each year, in summer, many Armenians from all parts of Iran travel
to this site for prayer and pilgrimage. They come by jeeps or trucks
after crossing a very rough mountainous passage.

They flock around the church, stay for a few days and perform their
religions ceremonies. For the rest of the year, however, the church
remains deserted in that remote area.

The additions made to St. Tatavous Church on the order of Abbas
Mirza consist of embossed images of the apostles on the facade and
decorations of flowers, bushes, lion and sun figures and arabesques,
all of which had been done by Iranian craftsmen.

St. Simon Church in Shiraz

This is another relatively important, but not so old church in Shiraz.

The large hall is completely done in Iranian style while the roof is
Roman. Small barrel-shaped vaults, many Iranian artworks and stained
glass windowpanes adorn the church.

Another church called the Glory of Christ, stands at Qalat, 34
kilometers from Shiraz. This building has survived from the Qajar
period and is surrounded by charming gardens.

Isfahan churches

The most important historical church in Iran is the old cathedral,
commonly referred to as Vank (which means "cathedral" in the Armenian
language).

This large building was constructed during the reign of Shah Abbas I
and completely reflects Iranian architecture. It has a double-layer
brick dome that is very much similar to those built by the Safavids.

The interior of the church is decorated with glorious and beautiful
paintings and miniature works that represent biblical traditions and
the image of angels and apostles, all of which have been executed in
a mixture of Iranian and Italian styles. The ceiling and walls are
coated with tiles from the Safavid epoch.

At a corner of the large courtyard of the cathedral, offices and halls
have been built to accommodate guests, the Isfahan archbishop and
his retinue, as well as other important Armenian religious hierarchy
in Iran.

The church compound also includes a museum that is located in a
separate building. The museum displays historical records and relics,
and the edicts of Iranian kings dating back to the time of Shah Abbas
I. It also contains an interesting collection of artwork. Isfahan has
other historical churches, the most important of which is the Church
of Beit-ol-Lahm at Nazar Avenue. There is also the Yerevan Church in
Yerevan district.

http://www.iran-daily.com/1392/10/18/MainPaper/4693/Page/6/?NewsID=109764

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  • 1 year later...

ARMENIAN CHURCHES INCLUDED IN LIST OF WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES

14:42 07/10/2015 Â" MISCELLANEOUS

Two Armenian churches are on the list of the world's 23 most beautiful
churches, according to the Daily Telegraph.

One of them is Bethlehem church in Iran. Also known as Bedkhem Church,
this Armenian Apostolic 17th-century church can be found in Isfahan,
Iran's showstopper Safavid city that bedecked each street with glorious
monuments and buildings. It is decorated with 72 exquisite paintings,
including depictions of the Last Supper and the Expulsion from Eden,
but its dome is most defiantly beautiful, with gilding, dainty
windows and fine detail. Isfahan is home to some 7,000 Armenians,
who live in the Jolfa quarter. Although they are required to obey
Islamic dress codes by law, they retain their own culture, identity,
language, and 16 churches.

Also included in the list is Church of Saint Stephanos, Iran. In
the very north-west of Iran, this isolated Armenian church sits in
a green, verdant valley that counters the belief that Iran is just
desert and mosque. The vaults, arches and dome are decorated with
murals and relief work, while the shrine contains Safavid-era chairs,
three images of Mary and Jesus, and four Bibles. Some believe that
the bones in the gilded reliquary are those of Saint Gregory.

Church of Saint Stephanos, Iran

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/artsandculture/11511958/The-worlds-most-beautiful-churches.html?frame=3254927

http://www.panorama.am/en/miscellaneous/2015/10/07/most-beautiful-churches/

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ISTANBUL ARMENIAN CHURCH TURNED INTO RECEPTION HALL

February 26, 2016 - 17:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian protestant church inIstanbul's Beyoglu
district has been turned into a reception hall, Ermenihaber.am reports
citing Sozcu.

The first and second floors of the building, which was built in 1850
and was in active use until 1922, served as a school and a church,
respectively. The Beyoglu municipality declared the church a public
domain in 1995.

Istanbul City Council member, representative of Turkey's Republican
People's Party (CHP) Hussein Sagi criticized the decision to use the
building for other purposes. "The head of Beyoglu district succeeded in
turning the historic church into a "multifunctional one," he ironized.

"The building was to be renovated, reopened for worship and returned to
its legal owners. What place of prayer has ever served as a reception
hall for engagement or wedding parties?" the official said.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.panarmenian.net_eng_news_206954_&d=CwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=g541ZBYmrMv080nc4aTZsFTgwu2_wE2Z6P_t7cf52A4&s=GB6Wx3EuS3Drt30uI3E9AdgBqH_G-nUE7hqbS46S9no&e=

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HISTORIC CHURCH IN NORTHWEST TURKEY FOR SALE ON INTERNET FOR $1.5 MILLION

Hurriyet Daily news, Turkey
Feb 25 2016

BURSA - Anadolu Agency

A centuries-old church in northwestern Turkey has been put up for
sale for $1.5 million on an online shopping platform.

Having sustained severe damage in recent decades, the 300-year-old
church in the northwestern province of Bursa was put up for sale
online by a real estate agent on behalf of its owner, who lives abroad.

The church, registered by the Bursa General Directorate of Foundations
in 1986, is located near the Green Tomb and the Emir Sultan Tomb in
the SetbaÅ~_ı neighborhood.

The posting on www.sahibinden.com is titled "Church for sale, unique
and suitable for every use."

The real estate agent who placed the ad, Tayfun Ozenginler, told
Anadolu Agency that Bursa has many historic churches due to the
Armenian and Greek communities that lived there the years ago.

"This particular building has been used for many different purposes
since the exchange of population law [between Turkey and Greece],"
Ozenginler said, adding that he has already received a number of
enquiries about the advert.

"No one has agreed the demanded price so far but we will do our best
for the sellers," he said.

February/25/2016

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.hurriyetdailynews.com_historic-2Dchurch-2Din-2Dnorthwest-2Dturkey-2Dfor-2Dsale-2Don-2Dinternet-2Dfor-2D15-2Dmillion-2D.aspx-3FpageID-3D238-26nid-3D95707-26NewsCatID-3D341&d=CwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=bRqAMU5JbZqwT7jEA4GuCWwlu9E1mGY5DUBU1B-YHC8&s=R2yM_r4anJUCenPMSj4g2w8WKwl8ybvFGjI8N1GeB_M&e=

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Armenian St. Gregory Church in Berezhany, Ukraine transferred to the Armenian Apostolic Church

http://www.groong.com/news/attachments/msg591634/pngUmcri3sLE9.png
19:50, 27 December, 2016
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Historical and architectural reserve in Ukraine’s Berezhany has transferred the Armenian St. Gregory Church to the Armenian religious community of Ternopil, the Ukrainian Diocese of the Armenia Apostolic Church, “Armenpress” reports AnalitikaUA.net informs.
Leader of the Armenian community in Ukraine Vilen Shatvoryan assessed this event as a historical one and expressed gratitude to everyone responsible for the transfer. According to him, any historical and cultural site is of key importance for the Armenian community and they are proud of the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Armenian community of Ukraine. “We will spare no efforts to preserve and popularize the historical, architectural and cultural heritage”, Shatvoryan said.
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  • 7 months later...

Thank you sir for your kind human act!!!!!!!!

TRT World, Turkey

Aug 17 2017
Turkish Imam goes the extra mile for ancient Armenian church
Metin Halici, an Imam of a mosque in Yozgat, Turkey is taking care of an ancient church based in the courtyard of the mosque.
http://cms.trtworld.com/sites/default/files/styles/headline/public/2017-08/Metin%20Halici.jpg?itok=HhmbEexmWe keep this chapel clean and ready for worship because we care about people and respect their beliefs, Metin Halici says.

An Armenian church built in the year 120 AD by Anatolian priests, is located in the courtyard of Yozgat's Sarikaya Mosque in Turkey.

Besides a cross drawn on its door, the building does not look like a church from the outside.

However, Armenians still come from as far as the US and Argentina to worship there.

The Imam of the mosque Metin Halici, has taken it upon himself to keep both places of worship clean.

He grabs a broom and dust cloth to clean the ancient church a few days every week.

This is his story:

Watch the video at http://www.trtworld.com/turkey/turkish-imam-goes-the-extra-mile-for-ancient-armenian-church-9717

 

 

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  • 7 months later...
Panorama, Armenia
April 6 2018
400-year-old Armenian church in Turkey on the verge of destruction

A 400-year-old Armenian church located in Van Province of eastern Turkey is on the verge of full destruction, having been targeted by treasure hunters for hundreds of years.

The walls of St. Stepanos Church are almost completely destroyed, with deep holes dug inside the church, Panorama.am reports, citing Ermenihaber.

Treasure hunters have also damaged the tombstones close to the church, one of the unique examples of medieval Armenian architecture.

The part of the church that managed to keep standing despite the attacks is at risk of a total collapse, the source said.

St. Stepanos Church operated until the 1915 Armenian Genocide, being one of the most important places of prayer for Armenians.

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  • 4 years later...
DailySabah.com
Bells to ring once again in Turkey's historical Armenian church
BY AGENCIES DİYARBAKIR APR 26, 2022 - 2:28 PM GMT+3
pngoOG8fwEQtA.png

Surp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, May 6, 2015. (DHA Photo)

After seven years, the bell will ring again at Surp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, in Turkey's Diyarbakır. With restoration works now complete, the church will reopen its doors to worshippers in May.

The restoration of the Armenian Surp Giragos Church in the Sur district of Diyarbakır has been completed. The first service will be held at the church on May 8 with the participation of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Sahak Mashalyan. The church's foundation also submitted a request to the government to appoint a permanent clergyman to the church.

The interior and exterior restoration of the church, right behind the four minarets where lawyer and former Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairperson Tahir Elçi was killed, has been restored to its original state.

202052.jpgSurp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, Oct. 25, 2011. (Sabah Archive Photo)

The 600-year-old church was abandoned to its fate in the early 1990s after villages in the southeast were evacuated due to terrorist activity. An intense migration flow started to the cities, and in parallel, many non-Muslims immigrated to European countries.

Anton Zor, who ran an antique shop in Sur, did not abandon the church and claimed to "have a memory of every stone." Zor guarded the church until the end of his life, living in two chambers whose columns were badly damaged, and walls and ceiling had collapsed. When he died in the Surp Pırgiç Hospital in Istanbul, the church was left completely derelict.

In 2008, the decision was made to restore the church, which was by then riddled with holes made by thieves hunting for gold.

The church's restoration was launched through a project carried out by the Armenian Foundation and the Metropolitan Municipality. It was restored over three years and opened its doors to the Armenian community from all over the world in 2011.

202053.jpgSurp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, March 14, 2019. (AA Photo)

The original of the 100-kilogram (220-pound) onion-head bell in its collapsed tower was specially made in Moscow and brought to Diyarbakır. After 35 years of deep silence, the sound of bells rang through the streets every Sunday. However, the chiming stopped again after four years.

Surp Giragos Church was heavily damaged again in 2015 due to terrorist attacks. Some 24 security guards were killed in the neighborhood where the church is located. The church was again left in ruins over the course of three months.

Terrorists positioned in the church attacked security forces with rockets and bombs. They created escape tunnels in the church, where the wounded terrorists were treated and the walls were riddled with holes from heavy weapons. After peace was restored, a tender was made for the church's restoration by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.

202055.jpgSurp Giragos, the largest Armenian Church in the Middle East, Diyarbakır, Turkey, March 14, 2019. (AA Photo)

Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, former deputy patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, who visited the church right after the incidents, said: “This is the Christian Quarter. Churches and mosques, which were God's houses of prayer, were destroyed. We cannot call those who do this human. I saw that they broke it all over with sledgehammers. Those hand-carved features and the places we call Horan were shattered,” he said.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church, which was the headquarters of the German armies during World War I and with a closed area of 3,000 square meters, was also used as a cotton warehouse of Sümerbank for a while.

https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/bells-to-ring-once-again-in-turkeys-historical-armenian-church/news

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Armenpress.am

Lithuanian lawmakers propose to recognize Armenian Apostolic Church as traditional religious community

1100636.jpg 15:21, 27 December 2022

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. A group of Lithuanian lawmakers propose to recognize the Armenian Apostolic Church as a traditional religious community in Lithuania, Delfi reports.

The amendments to the law were initiated by Raimundas Lopata, chairman of the parliamentary Committee for the Future, and registered by 15 MPs. The parliamentarians suggest adding the Armenian Apostolic Church, which they say is one of the oldest religious communities in Lithuania, to the current list of nine state-recognized traditional religious organizations. "The history of the professing the Armenian Apostolic Church religion in Lithuania dates back to the second half of the 14th century, which means that those professing the faith have been living and practicing their religion in Lithuania longer than members of some of the religious communities and associations recognized as traditional," Delfi quoted the authors of the amendments as saying in the explanatory note of the bill.

 

The legislators noted that Lithuania has had a stable Armenian diaspora for years. Last year's national census showed that Lithuania was home to 1,125 Armenians. The nine state-recognized religious communities and associations are Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Evangelical Reformed, Russian Orthodox, Old Believer, Judaist, Sunni Muslim, and Karaite.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1100636.html?fbclid=IwAR3bkrGnMdwu_PQLh0Db5epz0Da3GUVBzYPf1Y2mNW1YpSLk7F-o9zL-RKI

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  • 6 months later...
DAILY SABAH

Turkey - July 6 2023










Historical Armenian Church in Türkiye's Kayseri awaits maintenance



BY DAILY SABAH WITH IHA
ISTANBUL JUL 06, 2023 - 11:25 AM GMT+3



pngawv9w5fqMu.png












Cracks, fractures, and plaster spills are seen in Armenian Surp Boğos Bedros Church, Kayseri, Türkiye, July 06, 2023. (IHA Photo)












The renowned Armenian Surp Boğos Bedros Church in the Tomarza district of central Anatolian Kayseri needs maintenance to fix severe cracks, fractures, and plaster spills affecting the roof and the bottom of its columns and walls.


Constructed in 1837 using the traditional masonry technique, the church stands in the heart of Tomarza's bustling bazaar. However, following a tumultuous period during which it served as a warehouse and later a movie theater, the historical site has fallen into a state of disrepair.





The lower sections of the church's columns and walls have suffered substantial cracks, fractures, and plaster spills. Besides, grass and wild trees have overtaken the roof, causing damage to the church's eaves moldings, resulting in breakage and cracks because of neglect and lack of care. Regrettably, there have been no restoration efforts for this endangered landmark so far.


Local residents of Tomarza highlighted the church's 18th-century origins and emphasized its significance as an invaluable cultural heritage site with remarkable historical and architectural features. "Previously used as a warehouse and later converted into a cinema, the church now stands abandoned," one of the residents said.





"Our utmost desire is to restore this church, even though its epitaph has been lost, and transform it into a thriving tourist attraction. Despite its current state of disrepair, traces of period frescoes can still be admired on the walls. Regrettably, the church has become a nesting ground for pigeons," said another local.


"This church in Tomarza is a must-visit for both local and foreign history enthusiasts. We earnestly hope that restoration efforts will be undertaken before it succumbs to irreversible damage," he added.










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  • 5 weeks later...
pngI6BWTukp58.png

Aug 6 2023





The Medieval map of Armenian monasteries and sanctuaries from 1691 and stored in Bologna
by LIANNA AGASYAN





The Medieval map of Armenian monasteries and sanctuaries created in 1691 is stored in Bologna, Italy. The map is unique in being one of the first handwritten maps in the Armenian language. It displays a comprehensive overview of the traditional worship sites of the historical Armenian territory from the 4th to the 17th centuries. It depicts hundreds of monasteries and the main ecclesiastical centres.


This map was created by two remarkable players in the political and cultural arena of the late 1600s: Eremia Chelebi Keomiwrchean, the Armenian intellectual, poet, and Italian Luigi Ferdinando Marsili, who was a scientist and cartographer as well as an Italian diplomat and military man.


11-5-1024x736.jpg


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The map is stored in Italy in the University Library of Bologna; like other historical libraries of Italy, it has many ancient documents in the Armenian language, both manuscripts and prints, demonstrating the well-established cultural relations between Italy and the Armenian people since the Early Middle Ages.


Three illuminated manuscripts and nine printed volumes stand out, each representing a particular moment in Italian-Armenian relations or, more generally, of the contacts between the Armenians, Italy and Europe through printing.


The Armenian Bible is also stored there and is considered one of Europe's most significant Bibles.


Written and illuminated in the sixteenth century, the manuscript features twenty-six lavishly illuminated full-page miniatures consistent with the Armenian rules of book painting, representing one of the few examples that survived time reaching modern days.


pngIg_9UopdQR.png


https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/08/06/medieval-map-armenian-1691/


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  • 1 year later...

Armenpress.am

 
Culture22:30, 12 October 2024

Archaeologists discover Armenia’s oldest church

Read the article in: العربيةՀայերեն

 

Archaeologists discover Armenia’s oldest church

YEREVAN, 12 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. Archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster have discovered the remains of a previously unknown early Christian church in the ancient city of Artaxata (Artashat). The find consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions. The team excavated parts of the church and studied it using geophysical methods. “The 4th century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country – sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia,” remarked Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster. “Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the 4th century AD,” added Dr Mkrtich H. Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

Typologically, the find corresponds to early Christian memorial buildings. In the cross-shaped extensions, the researchers discovered the remains of wooden platforms, which were radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD. The octagonal building, around 30 metres in diameter, had a simple mortar floor and terracotta tiles. Finds of marble indicate that it was lavishly decorated with this material imported from the Mediterranean. The German-Armenian team has been in Armenia since September. They will continue their excavations and hope to make new discoveries, including the question of to whom the church was dedicated.

The Armenian-German research team has been exploring the Hellenistic metropolis of Artaxata in the Ararat Plain since 2018. The excavation project on the settlement archaeology of the ancient city is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1202149?fbclid=IwY2xjawF4U05leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXKJP3oZ0Vsn4XDzChshEtK_X8jkWB8CXR7g1MqkyTO-0PFanvYXstWWaQ_aem_3kEzw5S9-HsLIxFPtVwS7Q

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It seems it's the oldest.

“The 4th century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country – sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia,” remarked Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster.

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FOX News
Oct 14 2024
 
 

Archaeologists uncover one of the world's oldest Christian churches

Armenia was the first Christian state in the world

Archaeologists recently uncovered 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 Oct. 11. The school, which is located in Germany, teamed up with archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia to find the ancient ruins.

The remains of the ancient Christian building were found at the Artaxata site in the Ararat Plain. Excavators have been digging there since 2018, but didn't find the remains until recently.

"The find consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions," the University of Münster explained. "The team excavated parts of the church and studied it using geophysical methods."

MYSTERIOUS GRAVESTONE IN VIRGINIA REVEALS 400-YEAR-OLD SECRETS: ARCHAEOLOGISTS

Aerial of church reconstruction and ancient stone

Archaeologists developed a reconstruction image of what the ancient church would have looked like. (Armenian-German Artaxata Project)

"Typologically, the find corresponds to early Christian memorial buildings," the press release continued. "In the cross-shaped extensions, the researchers discovered the remains of wooden platforms, which were radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD"

The oldest Christian church buildings date back to the third and fourth centuries. The octagonal church at Artaxata had a floor made of mortar and terracotta tiles, and measured around 100 feet in diameter. 

There were also some fragments of marble imported from the Mediterranean, which indicate the church was "lavishly decorated," experts say.

"The 4th century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country – sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia," University of Münster Professor Achim Lichtenberger said in a statement.

The find is fitting in Armenia, which the University of Münster says was the first Christian state ever established.

"According to legend, Gregory the Illuminator converted the Armenian king Tiridates III to Christianity in Artaxata in 301 AD, making Armenia the first Christian state in the world," the school explained. 

"The medieval monastery of Khor Virap, just a stone’s throw from the now-discovered church, is a reminder of this tradition. Artaxata served as the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, ruled by the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties," the press release added. "The city developed into an important metropolis in the Hellenistic period and was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia for almost six centuries."

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/archaeologists-uncover-one-worlds-oldest-christian-churches

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the way you are told that first it was Echmidzin, 

"Ashtishat: Gregory established his headquarters at Ashtishat, an ancient temple site that he believed was the place where Jesus Christ descended to earth. A monastery was built there, the Surb Karapet, which was a major Christian pilgrimage site for 16 centuries."

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Oct 15 2024
 
 

Octagonal Christian Church from 4th Century AD Uncovered in Armenia

 
 

Armenia’s storied tryst with Christianity continues. The country that was the first to officially adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD, has now added a new discovery from the ancient city of Artaxata, showing a previously unknown early Christian church! The church consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions, a design aligning with early Christian memorial structures.

Octogonal Churches and Eary Christian Symbolism

 

In the cross-shaped extensions, researchers uncovered remnants of wooden platforms that have been radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD, firmly placing this church within a critical period of early Christian history, reports Universitat Munster.

“Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the 4th century AD,” said Dr Mkrtich H. Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

Conducting geophysical surveys, the discovery was made by a joint German-Armenian team consisting of archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster.

“The 4th century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country – sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia,” added Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster.

The building, with a diameter of roughly 30 meters (98.42 feet), is represented by a simple mortar floor and terracotta roof tiles. From marble fragments found at the site, the archaeologists have learnt that the church was once lavishly adorned with Mediterranean marble.

Christianity Reaches Artaxata: Initial Resistance Paves Way for Adoption

The ancient city of Artaxata, once the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia under the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties, was a vital cultural and political hub in the Hellenistic period, reports Arkeonews. It is likely that this church was related to the spread of early Christianity in the period, considering the deep-rooted local traditions tied to the faith.

Christianity Reaches Artaxata: Initial Resistance Paves Way for Adoption

The ancient city of Artaxata, once the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia under the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties, was a vital cultural and political hub in the Hellenistic period, reports Arkeonews. It is likely that this church was related to the spread of early Christianity in the period, considering the deep-rooted local traditions tied to the faith.

According to Armenian legend, it was in Artaxata that Gregory the Illuminator converted King Tiridates III to Christianity in 301 AD, making Armenia the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The Armenian Apostolic Church, a historical institution, began developing its own unique rites and traditions, while Gregory took over the responsibility of establishing new churches and appointed a formalized clergy.

The new church's location, just a short distance from the medieval monastery of Khor Virap, where Gregory was once imprisoned, accords a greater sense of historical continuity to the site. The archaeological team hopes to learn to whom this church was dedicated – a missing piece of the puzzle for now.

According to Armenian legend, it was in Artaxata that Gregory the Illuminator converted King Tiridates III to Christianity in 301 AD, making Armenia the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The Armenian Apostolic Church, a historical institution, began developing its own unique rites and traditions, while Gregory took over the responsibility of establishing new churches and appointed a formalized clergy.

The new church's location, just a short distance from the medieval monastery of Khor Virap, where Gregory was once imprisoned, accords a greater sense of historical continuity to the site. The archaeological team hopes to learn to whom this church was dedicated – a missing piece of the puzzle for now.

By Sahir Pandey

https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/christian-church-armenia-0021568

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Phys.org
Oct 15 2024
 
 

Archaeologists discover Armenia's oldest church

by Brigitte Heeke, University of Münster

Archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster have discovered the remains of a previously unknown early Christian church in the ancient city of Artaxata. The find consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions. The team excavated parts of the church and studied it using geophysical methods.
 

"The 4th century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country—sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia," remarked Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster.

"Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the 4th century AD," added Dr. Mkrtich H. Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

Typologically, the find corresponds to early Christian memorial buildings. In the cross-shaped extensions, the researchers discovered the remains of wooden platforms, which were radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD.

The octagonal building, around 30 meters in diameter, had a simple mortar floor and terracotta tiles. Finds of marble indicate that it was lavishly decorated with this material imported from the Mediterranean. The German-Armenian team has been in Armenia since September. They will continue their excavations and hope to make new discoveries, including the question of to whom the church was dedicated.

According to legend, Gregory the Illuminator converted the Armenian king Tiridates III to Christianity in Artaxata in 301 AD, making Armenia the first Christian state in the world. The medieval monastery of Khor Virap, just a stone's throw from the now-discovered church, is a reminder of this tradition.

Artaxata served as the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, ruled by the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties. The city developed into an important metropolis in the Hellenistic period and was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia for almost six centuries.

The Armenian-German research team has been exploring the Hellenistic metropolis of Artaxata in the Ararat Plain since 2018.

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Smithsonian Magazine
Oct 18 2024
 
 

This Newly Discovered, Octagonal Building in Armenia Is One of the World’s Oldest Christian Churches

The structure—also the earliest of its kind in the Asian country—dates to around 350 C.E.

 

Sonja Anderson

Daily Correspondent

 

Archaeologists have uncovered the oldest known Christian church in Armenia. Shaped like an octagon with cross-shaped extensions, the structure’s foundations are more than 1,600 years old, also making it one of the earliest known Christian churches in the world.

“The fourth-century building [offers] sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia,” says Achim Lichtenberger, an archaeologist at the University of Münster in Germany, in a statement.

Researchers from the University of Münster and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia found the church in 2023, then returned to excavate and study it this year. The monument is located in the ancient city of Artaxata, which served as Armenia’s capital for nearly six centuries.

In the early fourth century C.E., Tiridates III, who had been raised and educated in Rome, ruled Armenia from its capital. Legend has it that in the early 300s, a saint known as Gregory the Illuminator converted Tiridates to Christianity. The king decreed the faith Armenia’s official religion, making it the first Christian state, decades before the Roman Empire officially embraced Christianity in 380 C.E.

The Armenian and German archaeologists have been studying Artaxata’s ruins since 2018, and the church’s footprint is their most significant discovery thus far. The site is composed of an octagonal floor plan nearly 100 feet across, laid with a “simple mortar floor and terracotta tiles,” according to the statement. The octagon has long been a significant Christian symbol: As a visualization of the number eight, it evokes the number of days that passed between Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem and his resurrection, in addition to more generally representing rebirth.

“Octagonal churches were unknown here until now,” says Mkrtich H. Zardaryan, an expert at the National Academy, in the statement. “But we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the fourth century C.E.”

In the Artaxata church’s cross-shaped extensions, researchers found remains of wooden platforms that were radiocarbon dated to around 350 C.E. Excavations also uncovered pieces of marble, indicating that the building was once decorated with the fine stone, which would have been imported from the Mediterranean.

The church is now one of a few local monuments representing early Armenian Christianity. The medieval Khor Virap monastery, which dates to the seventh century, is located a few miles to the south. And about 20 miles north is Etchmiadzin Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed site that was built around the same time and is widely considered the world’s oldest cathedral. Still, as Lichtenberger tells Artnet News’ Richard Whiddington, no archaeological evidence has confirmed Etchmiadzin’s age.

The researchers will continue excavating the octagonal church’s foundations, hoping to learn more about its origins, including the person to whom it was originally dedicated. Already, the site has become an important reminder of the country’s religious history.

“Armenia is the oldest Christian state in the world,” Lichtenberger tells Artnet News. “Our monument attests to the early Christianization.”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-newly-discovered-octagonal-building-armenia-one-worlds-oldest-christian-churches-180985294/

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