Police in the Czech Republic are searching for a man who stole the skull of St. Zdislava from the Basilica of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislava in Jablonné v Podještědí.
The theft took place on Tuesday evening shortly before Mass. Dominican Fr. Štěpán Filip, parish vicar at the basilica, was the only eyewitness. In an interview published by the Czech outlet Seznam Zprávy, he said he heard “two blows” before seeing a person run away with the relic.
According to Fr. Filip, the thief broke two layers of glass protecting the reliquary, probably with a small emergency-style hammer. The basilica was open at the time, and the alarm connected to that part of the church had been turned off because Mass was about to begin.
St. Zdislava
The priest told Seznam Zprávy that the theft appeared planned and was carried out “in a few seconds.” Security cameras recorded part of the incident, and Czech police have released images of the suspected thief and the stolen relic.
The relic has major religious and historical importance. St. Zdislava died in 1252, and her skull had been kept separately in a reliquary since her beatification in the early 20th century. The basilica in Jablonné v Podještědí is the main place of devotion to the saint and a regular pilgrimage destination.
Fr. Filip also noted that the Church forbids the sale of relics, though he said a black market for such objects exists online. For Catholics, relics are not collectibles but remains of saints honored for their witness of faith.
Police have asked the public for information that could help identify the suspect or recover the relic.
