Arrr, matey! That church in Syria be the granddaddy of 'em all, Dura-Europos, a treasure o' history!
2024-09-16
Arrr, me hearties! Dura-Europos Church in yon land of Syria be reckon'd the oldest house o' worship, aye! Alas, now it be naught but a pile o' rubble, like a sunken treasure ship, lost to time and the sea of history! Har har!
Ahoy, mateys! Gather ‘round and lend an ear to the tale of the Dura-Europos Church, the oldest Christian house o’ worship known to man! Aye, this fine establishment started life as a humble dwelling, but lo and behold, it donned its Sunday best and transformed into a church in the land that be modern-day Syria, built ‘twixt the years 233 and 256 AD!Now, some landlubbers argue it ain't worthy of the grand title since it be not originally a church, but who be countin’? Even ol’ Guinness be givin’ it the nod as the oldest church building, so we’ll let that matter rest like a shipwreck on the ocean floor!
In the 1920s and 30s, treasure hunters, I mean archaeologists, from Yale and France dug up a trove of artifacts, including the finest frescoes ye ever laid yer eyes on! These painted wonders be among the oldest Christian art to grace the seven seas. But alas, the church now lies in ruins, claimed by the scallywags of ISIS.
And if ye be wonderin’ ‘bout the oldest church in the good ol’ US of A, many claim it to be the San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, built in 1610 and still standin’ tall, even after many a storm!
So raise yer tankards, me hearties, to old Dura-Europos and its illustrious past! Arrr!