Czech police hunt thief who stole 800-year-old skull of saint from church

"Czech police are hunting a thief who snatched the 800-year-old skull of a saint from a display box in a church and ran away with the relic. 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 suspect was seen running between the benches in the Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava basilica in Jablonne v Podjestedi, 110 km (68 miles) north of Prague."

"The value of the stolen skull is currently being investigated. However, its historic value is obviously incalculable, said Dagmar Sochorova, a spokesperson for the police. Saint Zdislava of Lemberk, a noblewoman, lived from 1220 to 1252 and was known for her generosity and work for the poor. She was canonised by Pope John Paul II in 1995."

"This is devastating news, the archbishop of Prague, Stanislav Pribyl, who also heads the Litomerice diocese that is in charge of the Jablonne church, told the news agency CTK. The skull was revered by pilgrims Placed on an altar in a side chapel, the skull was the subject of adoration for pilgrims travelling to Jablonne where Zdislava lived and worked more than 750 years ago, Pribyl said."

"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."

Czech police are searching for a thief who stole an 800-year-old skull of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk from a display box in a church and fled with the relic. A blurred security camera image released late on Tuesday shows a person in black running between benches in the Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava basilica in Jablonne v Podjestedi, north of Prague. Police are investigating the stolen skull’s value, while its historic value is described as incalculable. Saint Zdislava, a noblewoman who lived from 1220 to 1252, was known for generosity and work for the poor and was canonised in 1995. The archbishop of Prague said the skull was revered by pilgrims and that the theft is devastating. Police initially identified the suspect as a man, but later said they were not sure and are evaluating camera material.

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