Czech Police Hunt Thief Who Stole Medieval Saint's Skull from Church

The Police of the Czech Republic are searching for an unknown thief who stole the 800-year-old skull of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk from a church in Jablonne v Podjestedi. The theft occurred on a Tuesday between 6:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. at the Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava basilica, located approximately 110 kilometers north of Prague. Security footage captured a suspect, initially identified as a man but whose gender is currently under review, dressed in black and carrying the relic while running through the church. Authorities have described the historical value of the skull as incalculable and urged the public to provide any information that could aid in recovering the artifact and identifying the perpetrator. Prague Archbishop Stanislav Pribyl expressed devastation over the crime, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the relic to pilgrims and believers. Saint Zdislava, canonized in 1995, was a 13th-century noblewoman known for her charity and piety. The incident has drawn attention to the vulnerability of religious heritage sites and the profound loss represented by the theft of such a revered historical and spiritual object.