Armenia’s storied tryst with Christianity continues. The country that was the first to officially adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD, has now added a new discovery from the ancient city of Artaxata, showing a previously unknown early Christian church! The church consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions, a design aligning with early Christian memorial structures. Octogonal Churches and Eary Christian Symbolism In the cross-shaped extensions, researchers uncovered remnants of wooden platforms that have been radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD, firmly placing this church within a critical period of early Christian history, reports Universitat Munster. “Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the 4th century AD,” said Dr Mkrtich H. Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. World’s Oldest Christian Letter Found On 3rd Century Egyptian Papyrus Sword Guards Confirm Samurai Warriors Secretly followed Christianity Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesEuropeRead Later