Smith (1973:165) interpreted a seismic destruction in Phase 3 of the Western Church Complex in Area I. Although he suggested the 713 CE Syria Quake and the 717 CE Earthquake as possible candidates, the epicenters of both events were likely too distant to have produced the observed damage, suggesting an otherwise unreported local earthquake.

Smith (1973:165) writes that "the walls of the church, already greatly reduced in height, may have suffered relatively little fresh damage, but the flimsy repairs and constructions made during the phase, such as the stairway in the nave and the column set up next to the south wall, toppled." He adds that "it may be that the columns of the atrium had largely stood until this time, but if so they fell during the shocks." He continues that "the roofs of all the parts of the complex still in use likewise collapsed. Some pottery lying on the thin soil layer in the sanctuary was shattered and buried in the debris, a large section of which fell near the south apse, pushing through the layer of accumulated soil and indenting the limestone paving."

Smith et al. (1989:94) likewise interpreted a seismic destruction dated to 717 CE in Phase 4 of the Area I Church Complex. They report that "this phase ended in A.D. 717, when a massive earthquake damaged the Church and many other structures at Pella." They state that "much of the superstructure of the sanctuary of the Church probably collapsed at that time, although some of the columns in the atrium may have remained standing, as certainly did the two large columns of the porch on the north side of the atrium." They conclude that "falling masonry crushed portions of the floors and shattered, among other things, the marble screen beneath the altar."