This article lists some but by no means all of the oldest known church buildings in the world. In most instances, buildings listed here were reconstructed numerous times and only fragments of the original buildings have survived. These surviving freestanding buildings were purposely constructed for use by congregations (or used at an early date). The dates are the approximate dates when they were built and/or reconstructed and/or first used by Christian congregations for worship.

The term church may be used in the sense of "Christian denomination" or in the singular as the Christian Church as a whole. The "church" (Greek , 'assembly') is traced to Pentecost and the beginning of the Christian mission in the first century and was not used in reference to a building.

According to the historical Catholic Encyclopedia (published from 1907), the Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper in Jerusalem, was the "first Christian church". The Dura-Europos church in Syria is the oldest surviving church building in the world, while the archaeological remains of both the Aqaba Church and the Megiddo church have been considered to be the world's oldest known purpose-built church, erected in the Roman Empire's administrative Diocese of the East in the 3rd century. Several authors have cited the Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Armenia's mother church) as the oldest cathedral.

St. Thaddeus Monastery or Qara KelisaQara Kelisa, the feast of St Thaddeus of the Armenians in the oldest church in the world (photos) , asianews.it (meaning 'black church') in Chaldoran County, Iran is also noted by UNESCO World Heritage Centre as relating to 66 AD: "According to Armenian tradition such a location was chosen because saint Thaddeus built the earliest church—parts of which are still believed to be in place as the base of the old section—upon the ruins of the temple."The Armenian Monastic Ensembles in Iranian Azarbayjan , UNESCO, 2007 In 66 AD, he as one of the Apostles and Princess Sandukht (the daughter of the King or daughter of Abbot Simeon) and other Thaddeus' devotees were tortured and executed by Armenia's King Sanatrouk or Sanadruk.Armenian monastic ensembles (Iran) No 1262 , UNESCO - May 25, 1997St. Thaddeus Monastery, Armeninan church in Iran ,jerusalem-lospazioltre.it

Early Christianity to late antiquity

Church buildings of the 1st to 4th centuries (AD30400), either excavated archaeologically or substantially preserved.

Africa BuildingImageLocationCountryOldest part DenominationNotesMonastery of Saint AnthonyEastern DesertEgypt 356 Coptic Orthodox Partially destroyed in the 11th century and rebuilt; very little of the original structure remains.Monastery of ParomeosWadi El NatrunEgypt 335 Coptic Orthodox Built by St. Macarius the Great, its name (Pa-Romeos) which in Coptic means "The Romans" is thought to refer to his two Roman disciples Saints Maximus and Domitius sons of the Roman Emperor Valentinian II. The Monastery flourished during the Middle Ages and continues to be a major monastery within Egypt.Monastery of Saint Macarius the GreatWadi El NatrunEgypt 360 Coptic Orthodox Built by St. Macarius the Great, Who was a father for more than 4000 Monks of different Nationalities. It has been continually inhabited since its construction and has experienced renovation and expansion in the 20th century.Debre SinaAnsebaEritrea <383Eritrean Orthodox It was the site of the first Holy Communion prepared in the Eritrean Orthodox Church, by the 4th-century bishop Aba Salama.Monastery of Saint PishoyWadi El NatrunEgypt 4th century Coptic Orthodox Built by St Pishoy, his body was moved to the monastery on December 13 in 841 AD. The Monastery contains five Churches and a Keep, constructed in the 5th century AD, for protection against Berber raids. The Monastery has been raided several times by the Berbers throughout the ages, the most famous incident is when forty of the Monasteries elders were martyred and thrown in a neighboring well, consequently called "The Well of Martyrs".Monastery of Saint Mary DeiparaWadi El NatrunEgypt 4th century Coptic Orthodox Most commonly known as "Syrian Monastery". Some sources claim that Monks had lived there since the 4th century, but it is most commonly believed that it was established in the 6th century by monks from the Monastery of St. Pishoy who rejected the Julian Heresy, which claimed that Christ was incorruptible. As a result, they abandoned the Monastery and established a new one which they named after the Theotokos, to emphasize that they believed in Christ's humanity and corruptibility. The Monastery was bought by Syrian Merchants in the eighth century and inhabited by Syrian Monks.Abu Mena Basilica and ComplexAlexandriaEgypt late 3rd century Coptic Orthodox Built near the place at which the Body of St. Mina the Martyr was buried, the Basilica was ordered to be built by Emperor Zenon after the Saint healed his leper daughter. A Monastic community and a city eventually sprang up near the Basilica and it became a famous site of pilgrimage. Terracotta pots with the image of the Saint and spices from his body have been found all throughout the Roman Empire and as far north as Germany. The City complex and Basilica as well as the Monastery were sacked and destroyed in the 7th century by the Arab invaders. The ruins are currently a UNESCO World Heritage site.Monastery of Saint John the ShortWadi El NatrunEgypt 4th century Coptic Orthodox Built by Saint John around his "Tree of Obedience". The Monastery remained open until the 17th century when it was finally abandoned. Originally the body of St. John was in a Church near modern-day Suez, Egypt, but his disciples moved it to the monastery in 515 AD.Monastery of Saint Moses the StrongWadi El NatrunEgypt 4th century Coptic Orthodox Built by Saint Moses the Strong, who is called the Apostle of Peace. St. Moses was an Outlaw who repented and became a Monk in Sketes. As he progressed in age he became a father unto many, some of whom were criminals following his example. He was ordained a Priest and built a Chapel and a small monastic community around it. In 405 AD St. Moses heard news that the Monastery was going to be sacked, his disciples wanted to pick up arms and defend their home, however he urged them to either stand as Martyrs with him or escape to neighboring monastic communities. He and 7 others remained in the Church as it was sacked. Later some of his disciples returned and took his body, and the 7 others, with them to Paramous, where they lay today. The Monastery has remained desolate to this day. Church of Our Lady Mary of ZionAxumEthiopia 4th century Ethiopian Orthodox Originally built in the 4th century, it has been rebuilt several times, most recently in the 17th century during the reign of Emperor Fasilides.Beta SamatiBeta Samati, near Edaga Rebua, MezbirKingdom of Aksum, Ethiopia 4th century Ethiopian Orthodox Originally built in the 4th century, the church may be the oldest known from sub-Saharan Africa.

Asia BuildingImageLocationCountryOldest part DenominationNotesMonastery of Saint ThaddeusChaldoran CountyIranIn Armenian sources, it is said that this church was built in 66 AD. Another source mentions the construction of this building in 239 AD by Saint Gregory the IlluminatorEarly Church No archaeological evidence confirms the 3rd century date. During the repetitive wars in Iranian history, the building has been repaired and restored multiple times.Dura-Europos churchDura-EuroposSyria Early Church House church. Several walls still standing, oldest images of Jesus discovered within the surviving frescoes of the large baptistry room. Fragments of parchment scrolls with Hebrew texts unearthed containing Christian Eucharistic prayers closely connected with the prayers in the Didache.J.L. Teicher, "Ancient Eucharistic Prayers in Hebrew (Dura-Europos Parchment D. Pg. 25)", The Jewish Quarterly Review New Series 54.2 (October 1963), pp. 99–109Megiddo churchLegio near Tel MegiddoIsrael The Ancient Church at Megiddo: The Discovery and an Assessment of its Significance E Adams – The Expository Times, 2008 "... chronologically distinct. The structure at Megiddo is obviously not a basilica. According to Tepper, the Megiddo church is a unique ecclesiastical form. It could not have resembled the church buildings of the late third century."Early ChurchRuins 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 ChurchAqabaJordan late 3rd-early 4th century Early ChurchRuins uncovered in 1998; Remains of an early basilica. Considered to be the world's first known purpose-built church.Artaxata churchArtaxataArmenia 4th centuryEarly churchIn 2024, a team of archaeologists from Armenia and Germany discovered in Artaxata the remains of Armenia's oldest known church."Archaeologists discover Armenia’s oldest church", University of Münster News, 11 Oct 2024. Accessed 21 Oct 2024.Etchmiadzin CathedralVagharshapatArmenia 301 (tradition); current church: 483–484Armenian Apostolic ChurchAccording to scholars it was the first cathedral of the world (but not the first church) built in ancient Armenia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Mar Sarkis MonasteryMa'loulaSyria 4th centurySyriac CatholicBuilt in the 4th 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. The monastery suffered extensive damage and desecration in the Syrian Civil War.Hagia Sophia, İznikİznikTurkey 325; current structure from 1065 Early Christian church, now Orhan Mosque It was built in Nicaea as a Byzantine-era basilican church.Cathedral of Saints Constantine and HelenYabroudSyria 326Greek Melkite CatholicOriginally built as a pagan temple dedicated to Baalshamin during the first millennium BC, it was converted to a church when Saint Helen passed through the city on her way back to Rome from Jerusalem. The church was damaged during the Syrian Civil War.The damage done to 'Syria's oldest church' seen first hand The Daily Telegraph, by Christine Marlow. 16 October 2013Church of the Holy SepulchreJerusalem (East Jerusalem)Palestine 335SimultaneumOriginally completed in 335, the building suffered extensive damage and was almost completely destroyed in 1009. The church was rebuilt in 1048.Church of the NativityBethlehemPalestine 339SimultaneumIt 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. The original basilica was completed in 339.Mar Mattai MonasteryMount AlfafIraq 363Syriac OrthodoxExtensively rebuilt over the years with the earliest portions built during the 4th century.Yererouk BasilicaYereroukArmenia 4th or 5th centuryArmenian ApostolicOriginal building retains many ancient features.Kasagh BasilicaAparanArmenia 4th or 5th centuryArmenian ApostolicOriginal building retains many ancient features.Mor Gabriel MonasteryMidyatTurkey 397Syriac OrthodoxBuilt 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 ChurchAl-JubailSaudi Arabia 4th centuryChurch of the EastRediscovered in 1986 and excavated by the Saudi government, which prohibits access in line with its policy of Muslim exclusivity.Church of Saint PeterAntioch (Antakya)Turkey 4th or 5th centurySyriac Orthodox ChurchCave church used by very first Christians of Antioch, where Saint Peter presided as bishop. Known by its original Aramaic name of Knisset Mar Semaan Kefa. Extensively reconstructed, with oldest surviving elements from 4th or 5th century.Clyde E. Fant, Mitchell Glenn Reddish, A guide to biblical sites in Greece and Turkey (Oxford University Press US, 2003), pg. 149

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