Few indeed are the Christian churches of earlier date than the fifth century. Even the famous basilicas at Ravenna and Parenzo were only erected in the sixth. With the possible exception of Sta. Pudentiana at Rome there is no fourth-century church remaining in Europe, and even in Asia and Africa the examples may be counted on the fingers of the hand. But the date of St. James' church at Nisibis cannot possibly be later than the year 363, when the city was ceded to the Persians; and as it was built to receive the tomb of the saint (who died shortly after 350), it may be not improbably regarded as the citizens' thank-offering for their deliverance from the great siege. The church was originally triple, dedicated no doubt to the Holy Trinity, and consisting of three square _cellæ_ placed side by side. Each _cella_ measured about twenty-five feet in width, and had a small semicircular recess in the centre of the eastern wall. A pair of arched openings, each about four feet wide, gave access from _cella_ to _cella_; and a wider archway in each of the western walls opened into a triple narthex, furnished with three double doorways which opened into a courtyard. The central _cella_ is almost perfect as high as the cornice; but is roofed with a modern dome and pendentives, and has nothing to indicate conclusively the form of the original roof. The northern _cella_ has been more damaged and restored; but still retains the narthex doorways (now blocked) which the central narthex has lost. The southern _cella_, with its narthex, has been entirely destroyed. The side openings are spanned by heavy stone lintels, as also are the doorways in the narthex; but the western arches, and these over the apses, are open. Around them all internally runs a bold and richly carved architrave, which is also continued intermediately as a string along the walls. The foliage and mouldings throughout are thoroughly classical in feeling, and the work has all been executed in very finished style. The tomb of St. James is in a tiny crypt under the altar in the centre of the central _cella_. It consists of a stone sarcophagus covered with a heavy ridged lid; and it is highly probable that his bones have never been disturbed. The central _cella_ is still used for Christian worship, and has probably been so used continuously ever since the church was built. The northern _cella_, however, is not at present used. The Christians who live at Nisibin are Jacobites, and their Qasha inhabits a sort of little prophet's chamber built up against the northern wall of the church.