Relics of 13 saints, including those of 13th century national hero Prince Alexander Nevsky, have been stolen from a church in St. Petersburg, a law enforcement source reported on Wednesday.
An employee of St. Catherine the Martyr Church on Vasilyevsky Island reported the theft to police on Tuesday.
“On Monday night the perpetrators entered the church through a window on the first floor and went to the office of the rector where they stole relics of 13 saints, including those of St. Alexander Nevsky. They also stole a communion cup of white metal with the image of saints and five baptismal crosses of yellow and white metal,” the source said.
Police have opened a criminal case into the theft.