Back before most churches existed, early Christians would gather in neighbourhood homes known as house churches. In fact, the word ‘church’ was also used to describe the Christian community as a whole – the word itself means ‘assembly’ in Greek.
By the 1st-century AD, there were already several religious centers in the Holy Land but most of the Christian churches as we know them today began to spread across the globe after the 2nd century From the world-famous St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City to the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, these are the oldest churches in the world.
- Mor Gabriel Monastery (397)[SEE MAP] Mor Gabriel Monastery© Resul Muslu / Dreamstime
Dating back to 397, the Mor Gabriel Monastery is the oldest functioning Syriac Orthodox monastery left on Earth. Perched on the Tur Abdin plateau amongst rolling orchards and olive groves in south-eastern Turkey, this Christian church and the fortress-like compound has long served as a place of refuge.
The monastery, also known as Deyrulumur, has provided a home and sacred space for thousands of Coptic monks and at one stage even had its own diocese. 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, and there is an opportunity to stay overnight, but only with advanced permission.
- Monastery of Saint Anthony (356)
Today, the monastery is home to 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 practise the traditions set out by the original followers of Saint Anthony thousands of years ago.
Several of the original churches have been restored. The Monastery of St Anthony is the oldest building, and the main reason for visiting this remote part of the globe. Built over the saint’s tomb, it’s home to a collection of age-old medieval Coptic wall paintings.
Visitors can join hundreds of pilgrims visiting daily on a tour led by resident monks through the fortified walls of the monastery.
- Santa Maria in Trastevere (340)
Hailing back to 340, Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, is one of the earliest churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
While the oldest parts of the church date back to the 3rd-century, additional features were added in the 12th-century. These include the Romanesque bell tower, a series of interior mosaics, and a beautiful golden façade. The portico was added in the 18th-century.
There are many captivating highlights tempting historians and pilgrims from all over the world to this Roman church. Indubitably, the 12th-century mosaics are the pinnacle – a series of six spectacular mosaics by Pietro Cavallini that document the life of the Virgin Mary.
We'll continue from number 7 in the next post.