Why pilgrims come
A sacred place worth the journey.
Excavations at Kefar Othnay within the Megiddo Prison compound uncovered a third-century Christian prayer hall with a mosaic floor and Greek inscriptions, including a dedication to “God Jesus Christ.” It is among the earliest archaeologically identified spaces created specifically for Christian worship and is the subject of the Bear Grylls-narrated documentary The Mosaic Church. The original site is not open to ordinary visitors, and the mosaic has been removed for conservation and exhibition.
The pilgrim’s guide
What makes this visit meaningful
Encounter unusually early material evidence of Christians gathering around a central table and publicly naming Jesus as God—while carefully distinguishing the original archaeological location from the mosaic’s temporary museum display.
The “God Jesus Christ” inscription
Read the Greek dedication as rare material evidence for how a third-century Christian community spoke about Jesus before Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire.
A table at the center of worship
Notice how the inscriptions, donors, fish imagery, and central table illuminate a real worshipping community rather than an abstract archaeological curiosity.
The story behind The Mosaic Church
The 2025 documentary narrated by Bear Grylls follows the discovery, conservation, and contested questions surrounding this exceptional early Christian site.