pragueReuters —
Police said Wednesday that unidentified thieves snatched an 800-year-old skull believed to belong to St. Zdislava of Lemberg from a display box in a church in the northern Czech Republic and fled with the relic.
An obscure security camera photo showed a black-clad silhouette on Tuesday holding what police said was the skull of Ms Zdislava of Lemberg, running between benches at the Cathedral of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislava in Jablonne-Pozestedi, 110 kilometers (68 miles) north of Prague.
Saint Zdislava of Lemberg lived from 1220 to 1252 and was known for her generosity and work for the poor. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995.
“This is shocking news,” Archbishop of Prague Stanislav Pribil told news agency CTK.
“This skull was venerated by pilgrims…It is unbelievable that someone would steal from a church in broad daylight a relic that has above all historical and spiritual value to the faithful.”
Police identified the suspect as a man, but a spokesperson later said they were not sure and were assessing CCTV material.
