Hezbollah Rocket Damages Protective Structure at Byzantine Church Site in Nahariya; Ancient Mosaic Intact

NAHARIYA, DC News — A rocket fired from Lebanon struck the remains of a roughly 1,500-year-old Byzantine church in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya on Friday, damaging a modern protective structure but leaving the site’s ancient mosaic floor unharmed, authorities said.

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said the impact compromised a shelter installed in 2022 to preserve the archaeological remains. Despite the damage, officials reported that the mosaic — the site’s most significant feature — survived without harm.

“Initial assessments indicate that the mosaic was covered by debris from the modern structure that protected it, but it was not damaged,” an IAA spokesperson said, citing field evaluations reported by Israeli media outlets.

Archaeologists, conservation experts, local officials and representatives from the Property Tax Authority conducted an on-site inspection on Sunday.

The site, located in the Katznelson neighborhood of Nahariya, was discovered by chance in 1964 during school construction. Dating to around A.D. 550, the church is believed to have been destroyed during the Sasanian Persian invasion in 614.

Archaeological evidence points to a violent end, including burn marks and melted lead. The mosaic floor features intricate designs in vivid colors — depicting animals, plants, human figures and Christian symbols.

Roughly 100 medallions encircle the mosaic, most of them remarkably well preserved. At its center lies a rosette pattern that creates a striking three-dimensional optical illusion.

An inscription in ancient Greek credits the church’s construction to an archbishop from the region of Tyre, now in modern-day Lebanon. Researchers say the structure itself was built atop even older ruins, some dating back as far as 4,500 years.

The IAA completed a two-year restoration of the site before opening it to the public in 2022, when Nahariya officials described it as a key element of the city’s historical heritage.

The strike comes amid rising tensions along Israel’s northern border. Despite a cease-fire between Iran and Israel, rocket fire attributed to Hezbollah has continued in parts of the Galilee.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of cultural heritage sites caught in ongoing regional conflicts. Israeli authorities said they are considering repairs to the protective structure to ensure both continued conservation and public access. []