Medieval History
The theft of a medieval relic from a church in Ireland earlier this week is raising questions about the security of these places of worship and the safety of the items held within them.
On Saturday morning, church officials in Dublin?s Christ Church Cathedral discovered that the preserved heart of St Laurence O?Toole (d.1180) had been stolen. Church dean Rev. Dermot Dunne said, ?It?s just unthinkable that someone should steal something like that,? but this theft is just one of an increasing number of robberies that are taking place in churches.
Other Irish churches have been targeted in recent months ? a rare Celtic-designed reliquary, worth ?10,000, was ripped out of the wall at St Brigid?s Church in Killester, Co Dublin (fortunately the saint?s relic had been removed earlier for conservation work), while a piece of the True Cross was taken from Holycross Abbey, but was later returned. Meanwhile, the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript, was stolen from Santiago de Compostela last year, making international headlines. The theft of medieval relics is not just occurring in Europe ? last year it was reported that a 780-year old relic purported to be part of Saint Anthony of Padua, (the patron saint of lost things) was stolen from a church in Long Beach, California.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
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- Medieval Saint?s Relic Stolen From Dublin Church
The preserved heart of St Laurence O?Toole, Dublin?s patron saint has been stolen from the city?s Christ Church Cathedral. The theft occurred sometime between Friday night and noon on Saturday. A spokeswoman for the cathedral said it was opened at 9.30am...
- Codex Calixtinus Stolen From Santiago De Compostela
In what is being called the ?robbery of the century?, a priceless 12th-century manuscript has been stolen from the Santiago de Compostela. The Codex Calixtinus, which contains a kind of travel guide to the famous pilgrimage way of Santiago de Compostela...
- Historic Roofing Stolen From Medieval Nottingham Church
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Medieval History
Relic Robbing: Church?s Medieval Treasures in Jeopardy?
The theft of a medieval relic from a church in Ireland earlier this week is raising questions about the security of these places of worship and the safety of the items held within them.
On Saturday morning, church officials in Dublin?s Christ Church Cathedral discovered that the preserved heart of St Laurence O?Toole (d.1180) had been stolen. Church dean Rev. Dermot Dunne said, ?It?s just unthinkable that someone should steal something like that,? but this theft is just one of an increasing number of robberies that are taking place in churches.
Other Irish churches have been targeted in recent months ? a rare Celtic-designed reliquary, worth ?10,000, was ripped out of the wall at St Brigid?s Church in Killester, Co Dublin (fortunately the saint?s relic had been removed earlier for conservation work), while a piece of the True Cross was taken from Holycross Abbey, but was later returned. Meanwhile, the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript, was stolen from Santiago de Compostela last year, making international headlines. The theft of medieval relics is not just occurring in Europe ? last year it was reported that a 780-year old relic purported to be part of Saint Anthony of Padua, (the patron saint of lost things) was stolen from a church in Long Beach, California.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
- Former Church Caretaker Arrested For The Codex Calixtinus Theft
A former caretaker of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, along with his wife, son, and another women, have been arrested by Spanish police n connection with the theft of the Codex Calixtinus, an important 12th-century manuscript. The manuscript...
- Thieves Target Medieval Castle
Police have turned to the public for help after metal thieves struck at a tourist hot-spot. Sometime over the weekend raiders targeted Helmsley Castle and took the lead guttering from the front fascia of the visitor centre. It is estimated the lead...
- Medieval Saint?s Relic Stolen From Dublin Church
The preserved heart of St Laurence O?Toole, Dublin?s patron saint has been stolen from the city?s Christ Church Cathedral. The theft occurred sometime between Friday night and noon on Saturday. A spokeswoman for the cathedral said it was opened at 9.30am...
- Codex Calixtinus Stolen From Santiago De Compostela
In what is being called the ?robbery of the century?, a priceless 12th-century manuscript has been stolen from the Santiago de Compostela. The Codex Calixtinus, which contains a kind of travel guide to the famous pilgrimage way of Santiago de Compostela...
- Historic Roofing Stolen From Medieval Nottingham Church
Historic lead roofing panels have been stolen from a medieval Nottingham church. Thieves broke into St Martin's Church at Bilborough on Wednesday night. It was the third attack on the church in three weeks. Two thirds of the lead, which is worth thousands...