Czech Police Detain 35-Year-Old Suspect After Saint Zdislava Skull Theft From Jablonne Basilica

Czech police detained a 35-year-old man suspected of stealing a revered 800-year-old saint's skull from a church in the northern Czech Republic, after police and the church reported the theft on Wednesday.

“An unknown thief snatched an 800-year-old skull believed to be of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk from a display box in a church in the northern Czech Republic and ran away with the relic, police said on Wednesday”

CNN

Police said the theft involved Saint Zdislava of Lemberk, who lived from 1220 to 1252, and that fuzzy security camera footage showed a person dressed in black running between the benches in the Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava basilica in Jablonne v Podjestedi, 110 km (68 miles) north of Prague.

CNN

The Straits Times reported that Prague Archbishop Stanislav Pribyl called the case "devastating news" and said the skull was revered by pilgrims.

The Jerusalem Post said police determined the crime occurred between 6:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., and described a fuzzy security camera photo showing a man dressed in black wearing light colored shoes running with what police said was the skull of Zdislava of Lemberk in his hands.

Police urged the public to reach out with any information that may aid them in locating the thief and the skull, while the Guardian said a fuzzy security camera photo released late on Tuesday appeared to show a figure dressed in black carrying what police said was the skull of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk.

The Guardian reported that police initially identified the suspect as a man but a spokesperson later said that they were not sure and were evaluating material from the security camera.

Devdiscourse

Prague Archbishop Stanislav Pribyl told news agency CTK, "This is devastating news," and said "The skull was revered by pilgrims" who traveled to Jablonné where St. Zdislava lived and worked more than 750 years ago.

The Straits Times added that investigators "managed to obtain information about the location of the rare relic," and said the archbishop called the theft "devastating news" after the skull was reported stolen.

Police said the monetary value of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk's skull is currently being reviewed, while police noted that its historical value is "incalculable."

“Czech police are still searching for the thief who stole the 800-year-old skull of Saint Zdislava from a basilica in northernCzechiaearlier this week”

Hungarian Conservative

The Guardian said the skull was placed on an altar in a side chapel and that it "was the subject of adoration for pilgrims travelling to Jablonne where Zdislava lived and worked more than 750 years ago," as Czech police continued hunting for the thief.

The Straits Times reported that investigators were still working after the theft, with police and the church reporting the theft on Wednesday and Czech police saying they had obtained information about the location of the rare relic.

In parallel, the Straits Times said the suspect was detained in Prague’s orbit after police released details about the location of the relic and the basilica setting in Jablonne v Podjestedi, 110 km (68 miles) north of Prague.