Historic Skull Theft: Saint Zdislava's Relic Recovered

An 800-year-old skull, believed to belong to Saint Zdislava, was stolen from a Czech church and later found encased in concrete. A 35-year-old man was detained after confessing to the theft, motivated by his disagreement with the relic's public display. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison.

A skull dating back 800 years, said to be that of Saint Zdislava, was stolen from a Czech church and has now been recovered, according to local police. The sacred relic was discovered encased in concrete, prompting experts to carefully work on its extraction.

Czech authorities apprehended a 35-year-old individual on Thursday who confessed to stealing the relic from the Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava basilica located in Jablonne v Podjestedi. The suspect reportedly disagreed with the decision to display the relic publicly and intended to bury it privately in a river.

Saint Zdislava of Lemberk, celebrated for her benevolence and aid to the impoverished, lived during the early 13th century and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995. The alleged thief now faces a potential sentence of up to eight years if proven guilty of theft.