Archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster in Germany have discovered the remains of a previously unknown early Christian church in the ancient town of Artashat in Armenia, the website of the University of Münster reports.

The find is an octagonal building with cross-shaped annexes. A team of scientists excavated part of the church and studied it using geophysical methods.

“The 4th century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country, which is sensational evidence of early Christianity in Armenia,” said Prof. Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster.

“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,” added Dr. Mkrtich Zardaryan of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.