The skull of Czech saint Zdislava of Lemberk, which was in a glass reliquary in a church in the north of the country, was stolen on Tuesday by a thief who managed to escape, causing “incalculable” historical damage, Czech police authorities said, quoted by AFP.
Zdislava of Lemberk (circa 1220-1252), an aristocratic woman known for her acts of mercy and charity, was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995.
The theft from the Basilica of Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava in the town of Jablonné v Podještědí (north) was committed on Tuesday after 16:00 GMT (19:00 in Romania, red note), police spokeswoman Dagmar Sochorová said.
“An unknown person broke the reliquary in which the skull was kept and fled,” she declared.
Police, who released “poor quality images” showing the perpetrator of the theft “probably” dressed in black and “probably” wearing white shoes, appealed for help from anyone with information.
“The (financial no) value of the stolen skull is being assessed. However, its historical value is obviously inestimable,” Sochorová added.
The Archbishop of Prague, Stanislav Přibyl, who also heads the Diocese of Litoměřice to which the church in Jablonné belongs, described the news as “devastating”.
Placed on an altar in a side chapel, the relic “was the object of veneration for pilgrims heading to Jablonné, where Zdislava lived more than 750 years ago,” he said.
“I cannot believe that someone would commit a robbery in broad daylight to steal from a church a relic whose value is primarily historical,” added Monsignor Přibyl, who was appointed archbishop of Prague in February.
