Thief Steals 800-Year-Old Skull of Saint Zdislava from Czech Church

Local authorities in the Czech Republic announced that an unidentified thief stole an approximately 800-year-old skull believed to belong to Saint Zdislava of Lemberk. The theft occurred at the Basilica of Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava in Jablonné v Podještědí, located about 110 kilometers north of Prague. Security camera footage captured a person dressed in black fleeing the scene with the religious relic in hand during daylight hours. Saint Zdislava, who lived from 1220 to 1252, was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995 and is revered for her generosity and work with the poor. The Archbishop of Prague, Stanislav Pribyl, described the incident as devastating news, expressing shock that such a historically and spiritually significant object could be stolen in broad daylight. While initial police reports suggested the suspect was male, officials later corrected this statement, noting that the individual's identity remains unconfirmed as investigators continue to analyze the surveillance images. The relic was a site of veneration for pilgrims, making its loss a significant blow to the local Catholic community.