Rachel Evans
The first-ever Catholic cathedral is a contentious topic. While the Cenacle in Jerusalem, the site of the Last Supper, is considered the first Christian church, the first cathedral is widely considered to be St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy. Ordered by Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, it became the Popes' official residence and cathedral for the first millennium of Christian history. However, the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia, the Dura-Europos church in Syria, and the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Milan, Italy, are also contenders for the oldest Catholic cathedral.
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St. John Lateran, Rome
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, commonly known as the Lateran Basilica or Saint John Lateran, is the first Catholic cathedral ever built. It is officially the Major Papal, Patriarchal and Roman Archbasilica, Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran, Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World. It is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome, Italy. It is the only "archbasilica" in the world and is located outside Vatican City, approximately four kilometres northwest.
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran is Christendom's earliest basilica. It was ordered by Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, and became the Popes' own cathedral and official residence for the first millennium of Christian history. Constantine dedicated the original church to Jesus the Saviour, confirming Christ's superiority over the Capital's pagan gods and assuring the worldwide expansion of the Christian religion. The Emperor razed the adjoining imperial horse-guards barracks and commissioned the construction of the world's first papal cathedral and residence in Christian history.
The Archbasilica was founded in 324 and is the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and the oldest basilica in the Western world. It is also considered the mother church of the Roman Catholic faithful. The Archbasilica's Latin name is Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris ac Sancti Ioannis Baptistae et Ioannis Evangelistae ad Lateranum. The place name – Laterano (Lateran) – comes from an ancient Roman family (gens), whose palace (domus) was confiscated in the early fourth century when one of their members was accused of conspiring against the Emperor. The palace was handed over by Constantine I to the Bishop of Rome, who converted the building into a temple during the fourth century.
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran has played an important role throughout history. All popes were enthroned here until 1870. The Holy Thursday liturgy, when the Holy Father symbolically washes the feet of priests chosen from various parts of the world, is celebrated annually in St. John Lateran. The Archbasilica's interior has maintained its original Constantinian arrangement: a large rectangular hall with an impressive nave, flanked by double aisles and terminating in an apse.
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St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
St. Peter's Basilica, located in Vatican City, is one of the most sacred sites in Christianity and a major pilgrimage site. It is the largest Christian church building in the world by interior measurements and the second largest by exterior area. Its central dome, designed by Michelangelo and completed by Giacomo Della Porta, dominates the skyline of Rome and holds the title of the tallest dome in the world.
The construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506, with the original structure being demolished. It was consecrated on 18 November 1626. The temple was designed by several renowned architects, including Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno, with piazza and fittings by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. St. Peter's Basilica is one of the four Major Basilicas of Rome, along with the Basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul outside the Walls. It is the only one wholly within the territory of the Vatican City State.
The basilica is located directly above St. Peter's tomb, making it one of the world's holiest locations among the Catholic religion. St. Peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and is considered the first Bishop of Antioch and later the first Bishop of Rome. The basilica houses several priceless works of art, including St. Peter's Baldachin, a large bronze baldachin designed by Bernini, and The Pietà, a famous sculpture by Michelangelo.
St. Peter's Basilica is not the Pope's official seat, as that honour is held by the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. However, St. Peter's functionally serves as the Pope's principal church, as most Papal liturgies and ceremonies take place there due to its size and proximity to the Papal residence. The basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its historical and architectural significance.
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Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome
While the Dura-Europos church in Syria is the oldest surviving church building in the world, and the archaeological remains of the Aqaba Church and the Megiddo church suggest that they are the world's oldest purpose-built churches, Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, is considered one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals ever built.
The Santa Maria in Trastevere, also known as the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, was founded in the third century (between 333 AD and 340 AD) when Christianity was not widely accepted. It was commissioned by Pope Callistus I and ordered by Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great. It is considered one of the oldest cathedrals in Rome, Italy, and one of the oldest churches in Rome.
The cathedral is located in the charming neighbourhood of Trastevere, and its exterior is notable for its stunning golden mosaics and its twelfth-century bell tower. The interior of the building is divided into three naves by a score of columns from the Baths of Caracalla. The beautiful altarpieces and decorative elements include the golden mosaic in the apse, the Baroque-style Chapel of Altemps, which holds the Madonna della Clemenza, a life-size image of the Virgin, and the sculpture of San Antonio, known for granting wishes, at the entrance of the left nave. The central door, surmounted by the Greek letters MHΘY (Meter Theou, Mother of God), often serves as a Holy Door during Jubilee Years. The nave is divided from the aisles by 21 antique granite columns, and the ceiling of the nave and the mosaics of the apse are particularly beautiful.
The Santa Maria in Trastevere is considered a unique church and one of the most beautiful churches in Trastevere. It is definitely worth seeing for its beautiful mosaics and decorative elements, as well as the views of Rome from the surrounding area.
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The Dura-Europos church, Syria
The Dura-Europos church in Syria is the oldest surviving church building in the world. It is located in Dura-Europos, Syria, along the banks of the Euphrates River. It is believed to have been built between 232 and 256 AD, following the Durene tradition, characterised by the use of mud brick and a layout of rooms encircling a central courtyard. This style was typical of local domestic architecture, and the church is thought to have been a house that was converted into a place of worship.
The Dura-Europos church is also known as a "house church", as it is believed to have been an ordinary house before it was converted into a Christian assembly space. It is the earliest identified Christian house church and one of the earliest known Christian churches. The building was likely larger than the average residence in Dura and may have been built on undeveloped land. It was discovered in the 1930s during an archaeological project led by American researchers from Yale University.
The city of Dura-Europos was once a stronghold of the Roman Empire, and the church may have been influenced by the Roman army, as suggested by the discovery of Latin names linked to the Roman garrison in the city. Additionally, there may be a connection between the church and the nearby Jewish synagogue, as evidenced by a piece of Hebrew writing found within the church that resembles Jewish prayers and early Christian liturgical manuals.
The fate of the Dura-Europos church is unknown following the occupation of Syrian territory by ISIL during the Syrian Civil War. It is assumed that the building was destroyed during this time. However, the discovery and study of the Dura-Europos church provide valuable insights into the development of Christian spaces and the spread of Christianity in the region.
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Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia
Etchmiadzin Cathedral, located in the city of Etchmiadzin (Ejmiatsin) and Vagharshapat, Armenia, is considered the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia and is often regarded as the oldest cathedral in the world. It is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church and is a major pilgrimage site, attracting many visitors to the country. The cathedral is located at the centre of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the administrative headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The original church was constructed in the early fourth century, between 301 and 303, by Armenia's patron saint Gregory the Illuminator. It was built on the site of a pagan temple, symbolising the conversion from paganism to Christianity, after Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion under King Tiridates III. The cathedral's name, which translates to "the Descent of the Only-Begotten [Son of God]", is derived from the legend of its foundation, in which Gregory the Illuminator had a divine vision of Jesus Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to indicate where the cathedral should be built.
The core of the current building was constructed in 483/4 by Vahan Mamikonian after the cathedral was severely damaged during a Persian invasion. The cathedral has undergone several renovations over the centuries, including the addition of belfries in the latter half of the seventeenth century and the construction of a sacristy at the east end in 1868. Today, the cathedral incorporates styles from different periods of Armenian architecture.
Etchmiadzin Cathedral, along with several nearby early medieval churches and the archaeological site of Zvartnots, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The site illustrates the evolution of Armenian central-domed cross-hall type church architecture, which had a profound influence on the region's architectural and artistic development. The cathedral is also distinguished by its original interior frescoes, painted by artists such as Naghash Hovnatan, Hakob and Harutyun Hovnatanyans, and Hovnatan Hovnatanyan.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Catholic cathedral ever built was St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy. It was ordered by Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, and became the Popes' own cathedral and official residence for the first millennium of Christian history.
The first Catholic cathedral, St. John Lateran, was built in the 4th century. However, some sources claim that the first Christian church was the Cenacle in Jerusalem, which was the site of the Last Supper.
The Basilica of San Lorenzo in Milan, Italy, is one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals still in operation. Construction began in 364 AD, and it is one of the oldest buildings in the city.
The Cathedral of Trier in Germany is one of the oldest standing cathedrals in the country. It was built in 340 AD.
