The remnants of an early Christian ecclesiastical structure have been unearthed by archaeologists in Armenia, situated at the historical expanse of Artaxata.
A preliminary reconstruction of the early Christian church of Artaxata. Image credit: Armenian-German Artaxata Project.
Artaxata, alternatively referred to as Artashat, stood as a prominent urban center in ancient Armenia, fulfilling the role of the Kingdom of Armenia’s capital from its establishment in 176 BCE until 120 CE.
This city, established during the dominion of King Artaxias I (Artashes), is geographically positioned within the modern-day Ararat province of Armenia, on the Araks River’s left bank.
Throughout the period spanning the 1st to the 5th centuries CE, Artaxata experienced multiple cycles of destruction and reconstruction before its ultimate abandonment.
“According to historical accounts, Gregory the Illuminator facilitated the conversion of Armenian King Tiridates III to Christianity in Artaxata around 301 CE, thus designating Armenia as the world’s inaugural Christian nation,” stated Professor Achim Lichtenberger, an archaeologist affiliated with the University of Münster, and his collaborators.
“The vicinity of the medieval monastery of Khor Virap, situated mere moments from the recently discovered church, serves as a tangible connection to this historical narrative.”
“Artaxata functioned as the seat of power for the Kingdom of Armenia, governed successively by the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties.”
“During the Hellenistic epoch, the city evolved into a significant metropolis, serving as the capital for the Kingdom of Armenia for an extensive duration of nearly six centuries.”
The early Christian church rested on imposing pillars. Image credit: Armenian-German Artaxata Project.
The recently identified Christian church is characterized by its octagonal architectural design, complete with cruciform appendages.
The edifice measured approximately 30 meters in diameter, featuring a straightforward mortar flooring and roofing tiles crafted from terracotta.
Furthermore, its embellishments were opulent, incorporating marble sourced from the Mediterranean region.
Within the approximately 30-meter diameter structure and its extensions, Professor Lichtenberger and contributing authors from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster unearthed evidence of wooden platforms. Radiocarbon dating of these platforms placed them in the mid-4th century CE.
“The structure dating from the 4th century represents the earliest archaeologically verified church within the nation – offering compelling substantiation for the presence of early Christianity in Armenia,” Professor Lichtenberger remarked.
“Octagonal ecclesiastical edifices were previously unknown in this region, yet they are widely recognized from the Eastern Mediterranean area, where they first emerged during the 4th century CE,” added Dr. Mkrtich Zardaryan, an archaeologist at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
“From a typological perspective, this discovery aligns with the characteristics of early Christian memorial structures.”
“Our intention is to persist with the ongoing excavations, with the anticipation of unearthing further discoveries, including the identity of the church’s patron saint,” the research team indicated.
