Man Allegedly Stole Saint's 800-Year-Old Skull From Church

Police in the Czech Republic say a man who objected to a church displaying human remains stole what is believed to be a medieval saint's skull, embedded it in concrete, and prepared to dump it in a river, the New York Times reports. The skull, thought to belong to Saint Zdislava of Lemberk, was taken Tuesday from an ornate glass reliquary at the Basilica of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislava in Jablonne v Podjestedi, about 50 miles north of Prague. A priest heard two loud blows shortly before evening Mass and saw someone running from the building, church officials said; the alarm system had been shut off in advance of the service. Security footage later showed a man dressed in black at the scene, who changed clothes after leaving and left by taxi, according to police.

Investigators traced a 35-year-old suspect to the town of Mlada Boleslav. Police say he admitted taking the skull but initially refused to say where it was. Under questioning, he allegedly revealed he had encased the relic in concrete with plans to throw it into a river because he opposed the church keeping it on display and wanted it buried instead. Using specialized equipment, police located the skull inside an unspecified concrete object; restorers are now working to free it. The man, who has not been publicly named, is jailed and charged with theft, disorderly conduct, and property damage, offenses that could bring up to eight years in prison, Reuters reports. "We know he wanted to sink it in the river today to bid farewell in this way," the local police chief said, per the Guardian. "If we had failed to detain the man yesterday, the skull would probably never be found."

Archbishop of Prague Stanislav Pribyl thanked authorities for recovering the relic and said the church aims to return it to view by the end of the month, when a pilgrimage honoring Saint Zdislava is scheduled. The 13th-century noblewoman, known for her charity and designated a patron of families and troubled marriages, was canonized in 1995. After the theft, church leaders denounced the act as an attack on spiritual heritage; Pribyl also told Radio Prague International that "some curse or misfortune may befall that thief," describing it as a matter of religious belief rather than a threat. Once restored, the skull will be placed behind bulletproof glass with a dedicated alarm, the archbishop said, while adding that churches should remain accessible despite the need for tighter security.