The first Christian temple in Europe.

[karel188]

If to consider Constantine the Great as the promoter of Christianity, then the first Christian temple built in Europe is the Temple in Trier, Germania.
Constantine had founded it in 320 AD
Second was Magna Ecclesia in Byzantium, at the place of Hagia Sophia, 360 AD.
Right?

 

[Tammuz]

Two churches in Sofia, Bulgaria:

Built after the edict of 313: Sweta Sofija

Used as a church from 326: Church of Saint George

In Trier, Germany:

340: Trier Cathedal

 

[FLK]

Do you mean the Aula Palatina/Basilica of Constantine in Trier? I had always thought that this originally was built as a church, but apparently it was only part of the palace complex originally, and later came to be used as a church. The wikipedia article, unfortunately is vague on when it began to be used as a church.

Aula Palatina - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Keep]

Wouldn't the earliest Christian "temples" in Europe be small and discrete baptisteries and simple meeting rooms in peoples private homes to hear mass? These are basically impossible to track down.

 

[Tammuz]

Aula Palatina

Used as a church only from 1856 by the Protestants.

So I think those churches in Sofia are the oldest in Europe, considering the date of first use.

 

[karel188]

Do you mean the Aula Palatina/Basilica of Constantine in Trier? I had always thought that this originally was built as a church, but apparently it was only part of the palace complex originally, and later came to be used as a church. The wikipedia article, unfortunately is vague on when it began to be used as a church.

Aula Palatina - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Exactly, 310 AD

 

[karel188]

Used as a church only from 1856 by the Protestants.

What it was in 310? Prefecture, Consulate, Administration? The capital of Germania was Cologne.

 

[Tammuz]

What it was in 310? Prefecture, Consulate, Administration? The capital of Germania was Cologne.

My German sources say that it has never been a Catholic church, but was first an audience building for the Roman emperors, when visiting the city; then it burned out in the early Middle Ages and was rebuilt by the bishops of Trier as an episcopal residence until, rebuilt again, it was donated to the Protestant church community in 1856.

The designation as basilica is wrong because the architectural style is not that of a basilica and, as said, the building was never used Catholic.

 

[karel188]

Solid building.
Architectural taste of Constantine the Great. Interetig, what glasses have been in the windows, perhaps colorful.

 

[Tammuz]

Solid building.

I would say that at most 30% of the original material remain. The building was burned out twice and rebuilt and modified several times.

 

[karel188]

 

[AlpinLuke]

Well ... if I think to the "House Church" of Dura Europos, I could enter a never-ending debate.

Unfortunately Christianity didn't require particular structures [think to some Protestant confessions ... they simply use homes, not Churches, since Jesus said that everywhere people gathered in his name he was there], so that a common house with a fountain was a candidate for a early Christian Church! [The fountain could have worked as a baptistery].

 

[karel188]

In winters in Germany it must be cold inside this building. Obviously Romans have been dressed not in togas and sandals there.

 

[5fish]

Here is a list...

Temple in Trier, Germania.

Not based on this list...

List of oldest church buildings - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[karel188]

Here is a list...


Not based on this list...

List of oldest church buildings - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Constantine was the first Christian emperor from 313 to 337. Christian churches could not be built in 306 in the empire, if the emperor is pagan.

 

[MAGolding]

Do you mean the Aula Palatina/Basilica of Constantine in Trier? I had always thought that this originally was built as a church, but apparently it was only part of the palace complex originally, and later came to be used as a church. The wikipedia article, unfortunately is vague on when it began to be used as a church.

Aula Palatina - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yes, the basilica in Trier was orignal a throne room, not a church. But of couse Constantine built a least a few chapels and churches in and around Trier once he became a Christian. The Trier cathredal is a totally separate building from the basilica.

According to certain sources, the cathedral was commissioned by Emperor Constantine the Great and built on top of a palace of Saint Helen, his mother. Following the conversion of Constantine to Christianity, bishop Maximin (329-346) is said to have coordinated the construction of a cathedral, which at the time was the grandest ensemble of ecclesiastical structures in the West outside Rome. On a groundplan four times the size of the present cathedral no less than four basilicas, a baptistry and outbuildings were constructed. Archaeological research confirms that the current cathedral, as well as the adjacent cloisters and Church of Our ...., is raised upon the foundations of ancient Roman buildings of Augusta Treverorum. The four piers of the crossing of the present church, as well as parts of the brick outer walls are remnants from this period.

The fourth-century church was left in ruins by the Franks but rebuilt. It was destroyed again by the Vikings in 882. Under Archbishop Egbert (d. 993) rebuilding started, completed by Poppo of Babenberg (1016-1041). The famous west façade dates from this period, although the apse was not finished until 1196. Throughout the centuries the church continued to be rebuilt and embellished, according to the fashion of the period with Gothic vaults, Renaissance sculptures and Baroque chapels, but the overall style of the building remains Romanesque with a Roman core.

St. Helena died about 330, so either she donated her palace in Trier to the chruch while stil alive, or the church was started about 330 or later.

But it was normal for imperial palaces to have temples associated with them, so no doubt Constantine started building churches or chapels inTrier as soon as he became a christian.

Here is a link to a lis tof oldest church buildings. You can see that some of htem are older than the Trier Cathedral and date from before Chrisitianity became legalized.

List of oldest church buildings - Wikipedia

See.

Dura-Europos church - Wikipedia

San Clemente al Laterano - Wikipedia

In winters in Germany it must be cold inside this building. Obviously Romans have been dressed not in togas and sandals there.

It was originally heated with hot air from a hypcaust.

 

[karel188]

Northern Romans lived in Cologne, Trier and Bonn. Southern Romans lived in Rome. Northern Romans won.
Like in the USA - Northern and Southern states.
Therefore they called it Holy Roman Empire afterwards. Well it's faithful.

 

[karel188]

Constantine the Great coin. Can't understand is it Christian or not.

 

[5fish]

Constantine the Great coin.

Emperor Constantine... When did he become Christian...
His formal conversion in 312 is almost universally acknowledged among historians, despite that it was claimed he was baptized only on his deathbed by the Arian bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia in 337; the real reasons behind it remain unknown and are debated also.

Constantine the Great and Christianity - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

.

In 313 AD, the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which accepted Christianity: 10 years later, it had become the official religion of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire: in the First Century. The Roman Empire. Early Christians | PBS

.