<Table> <Tr> <Th> hide Building </Th> <Th> Image </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Oldest Part </Th> <Th> Denomination </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> San Vitale </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 400 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Although it was restored several times , the church retains its original structure and walls ; it actually sits below street level due to its age and relative lack of major structural renovations . The portico is one of the most ancient parts of the church . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santa Sabina </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 422 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Mostly unaltered , with some original mosaic decoration and agate window treatments . Notably , wooden doors date from around the same era and contain an early depiction of the crucifixion . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> San Giovanni Evangelista </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ravenna </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 424 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Partially original walls , with original floors and columns under layers of new floors . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santa Maria Maggiore </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 432 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Features intact original mosaic decoration , including some of the oldest depictions of the Virgin Mary . 18th - century façade covers 12th - century façade which replaced the original . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Church of the Acheiropoietos </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Thessaloniki </Td> <Td> Greece </Td> <Td> 450 -- 470 </Td> <Td> Greek Orthodox </Td> <Td> The Acheiropoietos has been dated from its bricks and mosaics to c. 450 -- 470 , making it perhaps the earliest of the city 's surviving churches . It was modified in the 7th century and again in the 14th and 15th centuries , but retains much of its original character . Known as the Panagia Theotokos in Byzantine times , it is dedicated to Mary . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santo Stefano Rotondo </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 455 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Believed to be the first church in Rome with a circular plan , inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sant'Agata dei Goti </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 460 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Built for the Arian Goths by Ricimer , this ancient church retains its original site plan and columns , despite many restorations . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stenče Basilica </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Polog Valley </Td> <Td> Macedonia </Td> <Td> 420 -- 465 </Td> <Td> Early Church </Td> <Td> To date remains of 16 early Christian basilicas have been revealed in the Polog Valley , of which 12 in Tetovo area and 4 in Gostivar area , and best has been investigated the one in Stenče dating from the 5th century AD , which is unique in Macedonia with 3 baptisteries . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santa Prisca </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 4th or 5th century </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> In the interior , the columns are the only visible remains of the ancient church after a 17th - century restoration , but the floor plan remains . A baptismal font allegedly used by Saint Peter is also conserved . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Little Hagia Sophia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Istanbul </Td> <Td> Turkey </Td> <Td> 527 </Td> <Td> Greek Orthodox </Td> <Td> A former Eastern Orthodox church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople , converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire . This Byzantine building with a central dome plan was erected in the 6th century by Justinian , likely was a model for Hagia Sophia , and is one of the most important early Byzantine buildings in Istanbul . Poorly executed restorations leave the church with a modern character . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hagia Sophia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Istanbul </Td> <Td> Turkey </Td> <Td> 532 -- 537 </Td> <Td> Greek Orthodox </Td> <Td> For almost 1,000 years it was the largest church in Christendom , the main center of worship for the Eastern Orthodox Church , and the jewel of Constantinople . In 1453 , it was captured and converted into a mosque , becoming a museum in 1932 under Atatürk . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Basilica di San Vitale </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ravenna </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 547 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> The best - preserved basilica from the time of Justinian I , filled with outstanding Byzantine mosaics in an excellent state of preservation . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td>
<Table> <Tr> <Th> hide Building </Th> <Th> Image </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Oldest Part </Th> <Th> Denomination </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> San Vitale </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 400 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Although it was restored several times , the church retains its original structure and walls ; it actually sits below street level due to its age and relative lack of major structural renovations . The portico is one of the most ancient parts of the church . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santa Sabina </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 422 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Mostly unaltered , with some original mosaic decoration and agate window treatments . Notably , wooden doors date from around the same era and contain an early depiction of the crucifixion . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> San Giovanni Evangelista </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ravenna </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 424 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Partially original walls , with original floors and columns under layers of new floors . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santa Maria Maggiore </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 432 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Features intact original mosaic decoration , including some of the oldest depictions of the Virgin Mary . 18th - century façade covers 12th - century façade which replaced the original . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Church of the Acheiropoietos </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Thessaloniki </Td> <Td> Greece </Td> <Td> 450 -- 470 </Td> <Td> Greek Orthodox </Td> <Td> The Acheiropoietos has been dated from its bricks and mosaics to c. 450 -- 470 , making it perhaps the earliest of the city 's surviving churches . It was modified in the 7th century and again in the 14th and 15th centuries , but retains much of its original character . Known as the Panagia Theotokos in Byzantine times , it is dedicated to Mary . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santo Stefano Rotondo </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 455 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Believed to be the first church in Rome with a circular plan , inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sant'Agata dei Goti </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 460 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> Built for the Arian Goths by Ricimer , this ancient church retains its original site plan and columns , despite many restorations . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stenče Basilica </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Polog Valley </Td> <Td> Macedonia </Td> <Td> 420 -- 465 </Td> <Td> Early Church </Td> <Td> To date remains of 16 early Christian basilicas have been revealed in the Polog Valley , of which 12 in Tetovo area and 4 in Gostivar area , and best has been investigated the one in Stenče dating from the 5th century AD , which is unique in Macedonia with 3 baptisteries . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Santa Prisca </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 4th or 5th century </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> In the interior , the columns are the only visible remains of the ancient church after a 17th - century restoration , but the floor plan remains . A baptismal font allegedly used by Saint Peter is also conserved . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Little Hagia Sophia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Istanbul </Td> <Td> Turkey </Td> <Td> 527 </Td> <Td> Greek Orthodox </Td> <Td> A former Eastern Orthodox church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople , converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire . This Byzantine building with a central dome plan was erected in the 6th century by Justinian , likely was a model for Hagia Sophia , and is one of the most important early Byzantine buildings in Istanbul . Poorly executed restorations leave the church with a modern character . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hagia Sophia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Istanbul </Td> <Td> Turkey </Td> <Td> 532 -- 537 </Td> <Td> Greek Orthodox </Td> <Td> For almost 1,000 years it was the largest church in Christendom , the main center of worship for the Eastern Orthodox Church , and the jewel of Constantinople . In 1453 , it was captured and converted into a mosque , becoming a museum in 1932 under Atatürk . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Basilica di San Vitale </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ravenna </Td> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> 547 </Td> <Td> Roman Catholic </Td> <Td> The best - preserved basilica from the time of Justinian I , filled with outstanding Byzantine mosaics in an excellent state of preservation . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td>
where was the first catholic church built in the world
where was the first catholic church built in the world
San Vitale
San Vitale