Oldest Church Structures Still Standing | Top 10
Today we’ll present 10 of the oldest church structures that are still standing.
If you love architecture or history, you’ll appreciate the beauty of the churches from all around the world.
And you don’t have to be religious.
To appreciate the beauty of a building, you have to know its history first. And we’re about to tell you.
Some of these were used as refugee centers, and some are just the perfect backgrounds in photographs.
10Basilica of San Nazaro in Brolo
We begin our top 10 list with San Nazaro church, located on the road that connected Milan to Rome.
The basilica was built by St. Ambrose in 382 AD and was originally dedicated to the Apostles.
And guess what? The altar still houses relics of the Apostles up to this day.
So next time you travel to Milan, forget for 1 second about shopping and visit one of the oldest churches in the world.
9Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains
Next on our top list is the Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, the oldest one still standing in France.
Built in Metz, initially as a Roman gymnasium for a spa complex, in 380 AD, the structure was converted into a church in the 7th century, becoming the chapel of a Benedictine nunnery.
In the 16th century until the 1970s, the building became a warehouse, and later it was restored and opened for exhibitions and concerts.
8Basilica of San Simpliciano
Apparently, Milan has many of these old church structures. Located in the centre of Milan, this one was dedicated to Saint Simplician, bishop of Milan.
Built in 374 AD, the structure was modified between the 12th and the 13 century, giving it a Romanesque appearance, which you can still see today.
Its interior is on the Latin cross plan, with a chapel that features decorations from Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical.
The church also has amazing paintings, such as ‘Defeat of the Cammolesi’ by Alessandro Varotari, ‘Incornoration of Mary’ by Ambrogio da Fossano and the ‘Marriage of the Virgin’ by Camillo Procaccini.
7Monastery of Saint Anthony
The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a Coptic Orthodox monastery, located in an oasis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 334 km southeast of Cairo.
Established in 356 AD by the followers of Saint Anthony, who is considered to be the first Christian monk, the monastery is visited each day by many pilgrims.
Although it may seem like a tranquil place now, the monastery has been witness to persecution from the Bedouins and Berbers.
6Santa Maria in Trastevere
Designed by architect Carlo Fontana, the construction of the Santa Maria in Trastevere was completed in 1143.
Located in Rome, the church’s basic floor plan and wall structure date back to the 340s.
The first sanctuary was built in 221 and 227 by Pope Callixtus I, and later completed by Pope Julius I.
Two churches still standing were built in 340 AD, and one is this amazing church.
As the name suggests, the church was built in honor of Mary, mother of Jesus.
5Cathedral of Trier
We mentioned that there were 2 churches built in 340 AD. The first one was Santa Maria in Trastevere, which we already talked about, and the second one is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Trier, located in Trier, Germany.
It is the oldest cathedral in the country, and the largest church structure in Trier, with dimensions 112.5 by 41 meters.
This amazing structure is raised upon the foundations of Roman buildings of Augusta Traverorum.
Its interior features 3 Romanesque naves, with Gothic vaulting and a Baroque chapel for the relic of the Seamless robe of Jesus.
Did you know that the skull of St. Helena, who was the mother of Emperor Constantine, is displayed in the cathedral? Something worth seeing!
4Church of the Nativity
The Church of the Nativity can be found in the little town that was the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Yes, we’re talking about Bethlehem.
And the natural thing to do is to build a church to commemorate his birth.
It was originally commissioned in 327 AD by Constantine and his mother Helena and it was completed in 339 AD, but destroyed by fire during the Samaritan Revolts in the 16th century.
However, a new church was built, this time by Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor.
The site of this church is a World Heritage Site and the first to be listed under Palestine by the UNESCO.
The Church of the Nativity is also listed on UNESCO’s list of ‘World Heritage Sites in Danger’.
3St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is a Late Renaissance church, in Vatican City, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Carlo Maderno and Michelangelo.
It was remodeled during the Renaissance period, but still includes Michelangelo’s Pieta, Bernini’s furnishings and Maderno’s nave. It measures 730 in length and 500 feet in width.
Today St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most visited churches in the world, as well as the place that the Pope calls it home.
2Etchmiadzin Cathedral
This church is the Mother Church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and is located in the city of Vagharshapat.
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral was the first cathedral built in the ancient Armenian Kingdom.
Established in 301 AD, the church was built by the country’s patron Saint Gregory the Illuminator.
And although the building had many renovations throughout the centuries, today it still bears some of the original design.
1Dura-Europos House Church
Our journey ends in Syria, where you’ll find this incredible church structure, built in 241 AD. Located in Dura-Europos, the church consists of a house conjoined with a room, which served as a meeting room.
The building features frescoes and paintings depicting the miracles that Jesus made.
But the most amazing part is that there were Hebrew scrolls in parchment paper discovered within the church grounds.
J.L. Teicher, a researcher, said that those were Christian Eucharistic prayers.
These were the Oldest Church Structures Still Standing !
We hope you enjoyed our article and we will like to know your opinion about this top list, so make sure you leave it in the comment section below!
Also, for more interesting articles check out Beautiful Churches in Europe and Beautiful Churches From The Rest Of The World.
Stay tuned for more to come!
