Dig Reveals World’s Oldest Church in Jordan

Archaeologists have discovered an underground church in Jordan that could date back to A.D. 33 – 70, which would make it the oldest and first church in the world – logically one that was built shortly after Christ’s time.

The Sydney Morning Herald in Sydney, Australia, reported that scientists discovered the underground church last week beneath St. Georgeous Church in Rihab, Jordan – a church that, itself, dates back to A.D. 230.

“We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians – the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ,” said Abdul Qader al-Husan, the head of the Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, to reporters. The most notable evidence is a mosaic found in the church, which describes the worshippers as “the 70 beloved by God and Divine.” Husan theorizes that these early Christians fled persecution in Jerusalem and founded churches in northern Jordan. Other evidence indicates that the church members lived, at least partly, in the underground structure. Archaeologists found items included pottery from as early as the third century and stone seats for the clergy, as well as a rounded portion of the room that resembles a Cathedral-esque apse.

Many Christians worshipped underground until the Roman Empire embraced Christianity as its official religion in the fourth century. Currently, no church lays claim to being “the oldest church in the world.”

Rihab is located in northern Jordan, near the Syrian border.