One of the oldest Christian sites in the Homs region, the Church of St. Elias dates to at least the 6th century and possibly earlier. In 1970 a remarkable discovery was made in the crypt: a series of fine early Christian murals had been whitewashed over and hidden beneath plaster, preserving them for centuries. When uncovered, they proved to be among the most significant examples of early Byzantine religious art found in Syria.
The church sits in a compound that remained an active place of pilgrimage for both Christians and, traditionally, some local Muslims who venerated the prophet Elijah. The site suffered serious damage during the Syrian civil war — fighting around Homs was particularly intense from 2011 onward — and the condition of the murals and the building as a whole was uncertain as of the mid-2010s. Any visit should be verified carefully against current conditions on the ground.