Rihab Explained

Rihab is a village in Mafraq Governorate, in northern Jordan.

Antique church buildings

Rihab features numerous natural caves and dozens of churches, most of them dating to the late sixth or early seventh century.^{[1] [2]}

St. George's church in Rihab is claimed to be one of the oldest churches in the world.^[3] A cave under the church may have been used for Christian worship as early as AD 33, although this has been contested by experts.^{[1] [4] [5]}

See also

• List of oldest church buildings

Further reading

• Mittmann . Siegfried . 1967 . Die Mosaikinschrift der Menas-Kirche in Riḥāb . . 83 . 1 . 42–45 . German. 27930795 .
• Piccirillo . Michele . Michele Piccirillo (archaeologist). Storme . Albert . January 1981 . LES ANTIQUITÉS DE RIḤAB DES BENÊ ḤASAN . . Peeters Publishers. 88 . 1 . 62–69 . French . 44088520 .
• Abu-Ghazalah . Samer . Al-Hissan . Abdel-kader . 2002 . Discovery of the Oldest Church of the World . Architectural Science Review . 45 . 4 . 295–297 . 10.1080/00038628.2002.9696943 . 219597102 .
• Al-Bashaireh . Khaled . Al-Housan . Abdul Qader . 2015 . Provenance investigation of white marbles of chancel screens from Rihab Byzantine churches, northeast Jordan. . . 16 . 4. 591–596 . 10.1016/j.culher.2014.10.002 .
• Aliquot . Julien . Al-Husan . Abdul Qader . 2020 . The Church of Saint John the Baptist in Riḥāb (Jordan): epigraphy and history . Berytus, American University of Beirut . 59-60 . 107–130 .

32.3167°N 36.1°W

Notes and References

1. News: Milstein . Mati . 13 June 2008 . "Oldest Church" Discovery "Ridiculous," Critics Say . https://web.archive.org/web/20081108094044/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080613-old-church.html . 2008-11-08 . .
2. Web site: UNESCO, GIZ preserve unique mosaic heritage in Rihab . 8 March 2021 . .
3. Web site: Hatay, St. Pierre Church . 15 April 2011 . UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Tentative Lists .
4. News: Jordan cave may be oldest church . . Matt . McGrath . 10 June 2008.
5. News: 12 June 2008 . Doubts Raised About Ancient Christian Shrine in Jordan . https://web.archive.org/web/20141108061558/https://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/06/12/doubts-raised-about-ancient-christian-shrine-in-jordan/ . 2014-11-08 . .