A preliminary reconstruction shows the late antique church of Artaxata. Credit: 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 discovery 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 of the beginnings of Christianity in Armenia,” remarked Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster.
“Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we know them very well in 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 discovery corresponds to paleo-Christian memorial buildings. In the cross-shaped extensions, researchers discovered the remains of wooden platforms, radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD.
The octagonal building, about 30 meters in diameter, had a simple mortar floor and terracotta tiles. Marble finds indicate that it was richly 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, particularly on the question of who the church was dedicated to.
Khor Virap Monastery, at the foot of Mount Ararat, is very close to the newly discovered church. Credit: University of Münster
According to legend, Gregory the Illuminator converted Armenian King Tiridates III to Christianity at Artaxata in 301 AD, making Armenia the first Christian state in the world. The medieval monastery of Khor Virap, a stone’s throw from the church now discovered, recalls this tradition.
Artaxata was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, ruled by the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties. The city became an important metropolis during the Hellenistic era 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.
Provided by the University of Münster
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