List of oldest church buildings
Asia

List of oldest church buildings

Section Title: Asia
Table Section Text: None

Building	Image	Location	Country	Oldest Part	Denomination	Notes

St. Thaddeus Monastery	-	Chaldoran County	Iran	c. 1st or 2nd AD	Early Church	During the repetitive wars in the Iranian history the building has been repaired and restored multiple of times.

Dura-Europos church	-	Dura-Europos	Syria	c. 241	Early Church	House church. Several walls still standing, oldest images of Jesus discovered within the surviving frescoes of the large baptistry room.

Megiddo church	Legio near Tel Megiddo	Israel	late 3rd century	Early Church	Ruins discovered on prison grounds in 2005, possibly oldest building constructed as a church ever discovered. It retains mosaic floor decoration with Christian motifs – possibly the oldest building with this feature.

Aqaba Church	-	Aqaba	Jordan	late 3rd-early 4th century	Early Church	Ruins uncovered in 1988; Remains of an early basilica. Considered to be the world's first purpose-built church.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral	-	Vagharshapat	Armenia	301 (tradition); current church: 483–484	Armenian Apostolic Church	According to scholars it was the first cathedral of the world (but not the first church) built in ancient Armenia.

Mar Sarkis Monastery	Monastery St Sergios 3.JPG	Ma'loula	Syria	4th century	Syriac Catholic	Built in the 5th century on the remains of a pagan temple, it likely predates the Council of Nicea (325 AD) as evidenced by the fact that it has a round altar, which was prohibited at the Council.

Sts. Constantine & Helena Cathedral	Yabroud	Syria	326	Syriac Catholic	Originally built as a pagan temple dedicated to Baalshamin during the first millennium BC, it was converted to a church when St.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre	The Church of the Holy Sepulchre-Jerusalem.JPG	Jerusalem	335	Simultaneum	Originally completed in 335, the building suffered extensive damage and was almost completely destroyed in 1009. The church was rebuilt in 1038.

Church of the Nativity	-	Bethlehem	Palestine	339	Simultaneum	It was commissioned in 327 by Constantine and his mother Helena over the site that was traditionally considered to be located over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus.

Mar Mattai monastery	-	Mount Alfaf	Iraq	363	Syriac Orthodox	Extensively rebuilt over the years with the earliest portions built during the 4th century.

Kasagh Basilica	-	Aparan	Armenia	4th or 5th century	Armenian Apostolic	Original building retains many ancient features.

Mor Gabriel Monastery	Deyrulumur P1040804 20080425103239.JPG	Midyat	Turkey	397	Syriac Orthodox	Built on the ruins of an old Assyrian temple, the property is now currently subject to a dispute between the Turkish government and the church.

Jubail Church	-	Al-Jubail	Saudi Arabia	4th century	Church of the East	The government hides it from locals and bans foreigners from openly visiting it – even archaeologists.

Church of St Peter	Antioch Saint Pierre Church Front.JPG	Antioch (Antakya)	Turkey	4th or 5th century	Syriac Orthodox	Cave church used by very first Christians of Antioch, where St. Peter presided as bishop.

Sentence(s)

According to scholars, Etchmiadzin Cathedral was the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia.

final_sentence: According to scholars, Etchmiadzin Cathedral was the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia.