The story of a stolen relic in the Czech Republic has a happy ending. The restorers managed to successfully save the precious skull of St. Zdislava, which was stolen by a thief from the basilica in Jablonny in Podještědí in mid-May. The remains of the saint will be ceremoniously displayed during the next Saturday pilgrimage on May 30, and then they will be definitively placed back in the tomb.
The church will display the skull of St. Zdislava during Saturday’s pilgrimage in Jablonny in Podještědí and then return it to the grave, Prague Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl said. TASR informs about it based on a report from the portal Novinky.cz.ň
- During the Saturday pilgrimage, the church will display the skull of St. Zdislava and then place it in the grave.
- The skull of St. Zdislava was stolen from the basilica in May.
- The perpetrator covered the relic in concrete, he wanted to put it in the river.
- The restorers saved the skull and the police allowed it to return to the temple.
Theft and covering with concrete
The skull was stolen by a thief from the Basilica of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislavy fled from the scene of the crime. He ran to the basilica shortly before the service, when the alarm was turned off and only one priest was there. According to his own words, the thief did not agree with displaying the relic, so he covered it in concrete and wanted to bury it in the river.
The restorers managed to save the relic, and the police announced earlier that it will return to the temple in Jablonn in Podještědí on Saturday, May 30, when this saint has a holiday and at the same time a pilgrimage is taking place.
Patroness of families and the Czech nation
The law enforcement authorities suggested prosecuting the perpetrator in prison for fear of influencing witnesses, of escaping or of the risk that he will continue his criminal activity. The judge did not recognize any of these reasons and ordered his release. The man will be prosecuted at liberty.
Saint Zdislava is revered as the patroness of families, congregations of sisters, but also of the Litoměřice diocese and the Czech nation. The Catholic Church beatified her in 1907 and Pope John Paul II declared her a saint. in 1995.
