A missile fired by Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanon on Friday evening, April 10, caused damage to a roughly 1,400-year-old Byzantine-era church in Nahariya. The church dates back to the early 7th century and was originally destroyed in 614 during the Persian conquest of parts of the land of Israel from the Christian Byzantine rulers.
The Israel Antiquities Authority said an initial inspection indicated the ancient mosaic floor itself was not damaged but was covered by debris from the modern protective structure built above it. The mosaic features more than 100 medallions—of which 87 remain—depicting animals, birds, and human figures. At its center is a rosette that has survived almost intact, creating a three-dimensional optical illusion.
The remains were discovered by chance in 1964 during foundation work for a youth club. In 1974, the mosaic was exposed, and large sections were restored. In 1984, a protective structure was erected above the site with a donation from Nahariya’s German sister city of Bielefeld. That protective structure was damaged by the Hezbollah missile fire. Archaeologists and conservation experts are expected to meet with municipal representatives for a full security assessment.
Originally posted on vfinews.com
