World’s Oldest Church Was A Cave

The world’s oldest church, dating back to the 1st century, was unearthed in Jordan. The underground church was discovered beneath the Saint Georgeous Church in Rihab, near the Syrian border. It is believed to have been used by Christ’s followers who fled Jerusalem after the crucifixion and is thought to date from between AD 33 and AD 70. The discovery is considered an important milestone for Christians worldwide[4][6]. The site is located in Aqaba, Jordan, and is considered to be the world’s oldest-known purpose-built Christian church, with its first phase dated between 293 and 303[1]. The ancient city of Petra, where the church was found, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the new seven wonders of the world[2][9]. The city of Petra, carved into red desert cliffs, is more than 2,000 years old, dating back to the 4th century BCE, and has been the setting for several movies, including “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”[7][9].

The oldest church found may go back farther than this, however.

Also in Jordan, archaeologists reportedly unearthed the world’s oldest church dating back 2,000 years. Resembling scenes out of an Indiana Jones movie, scientists explored the  underground cavern and discovered a cave underneath the church which they believe it is an even more ancient site of Christian worship than the church site above it. Archaeologist Abdel-Qader Hussein, head of the Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies, Abdul Qader al-Husan told The Jordan Times: ‘We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from 33 AD to 70 AD.

Jesus was an ultra-orthodox Jew as were all his disciples and followers. All members of the early “church” thought themselves wholly as Jews and were identified as such by others. The Christian religion was a much later development. If this cave dates from the period immediately after Jesus’ death, far from being a church it is actually a place of Jewish worship and thus a synagogue, though none of this is likely to cut much ice with those who would like to rewrite history and Jews out of it all together.

– Mike, Jerusalem, Israel, 11/6/2008 06:36

This older discovery was also made in the northern Jordanian city of Rihab. The findings are significant and have garnered attention from various sources, but it’s important to note that the claim is still a subject of debate and further archaeological and historical analysis is needed to confirm this assertion.

The discovery was reported by Fox News, The London Evening Standard, and Neatorama, among others. The Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies and Research in Jordan, where Abdel-Qader Hussein is the head, has been involved in the excavation and study of this significant find.

The claim of unearthing the world’s first church is based on the findings in the northern Jordanian city of Rihab, and it has sparked interest and discussions in the archaeological and historical communities. However, it’s essential to await further research and analysis to validate this assertion.

Citations:

^{[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqaba_Church
[2] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/lost-city-petra
[3] https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/is-this-christianitys-first-church-cave-where-70-beloved-by-god-worshipped-while-christ-was-alive-is-found-6875163.html
[4] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/worlds-oldest-church-unearthed-in-jordan-846952.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
[6] https://journeytoorthodoxy.com/2017/02/worlds-oldest-christian-church-discovered-in-jordan/
[7] https://www.livescience.com/23168-petra.html
[8] https://youtube.com/watch?v=msjB8WqwE3M
[9] https://www.thecollector.com/what-is-so-special-about-petra-jordan-world-heritage-site/
[10] https://www.foxnews.com/story/ancient-christian-shrine-possibly-found-in-jordan
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd_al-Qadir_al-Husayni
[12] https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/is-this-christianitys-first-church-cave-where-70-beloved-by-god-worshipped-while-christ-was-alive-is-found-6875163.html
[13] https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/abd-al-qader-husseini}