Stolen skull of medieval saint hidden in concrete, say Czech police

May 15, 2026 10:28 AM EDT

FILE PHOTO: A handout image released on May 13, 2026, shows a picture of an 800-year-old skull, believed to be that of Saint Zdislava of Lemberk, in Jablonne v Podjestedi, Czech Republic. Police of the Czech Republic/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

PRAGUE, May ‌15 (Reuters) - An ​800-year-old ​skull snatched this week from a Czech church has ‌been found encased in concrete, ⁠police said, and experts are now ‌working to extract the ‌relic, revered as the skull of Saint Zdislava.

Czech police detained a ​35-year-old man on Thursday, who admitted to the theft from ⁠the Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava basilica ​in the northern village of Jablonne v Podjestedi.

His motive was that ​he disagreed with ‌displaying the relic in the church and wanted to ⁠bury it privately in a river, said Petr Rajt, police director ⁠in the northern region.

The man faces up ​to eight years in jail if convicted of theft.

Saint Zdislava of Lemberk lived from 1220 ‌to 1252 and was known for her generosity and ‌work for the poor. She ⁠was canonised ‌by Pope John ​Paul II in 1995.

(Reporting by Jan LopatkaEditing by Alexandra ‌Hudson)



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