A fragment of the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker stolen and destroyed in France

On November 2, priests of the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port in the French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle reported the theft of a bone fragment considered to be part of the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The incident was first reported by the Saint Nicholas parish in Lorraine on its social media pages, and details were later confirmed by local newspapers and the police. The suspect was apprehended, and according to his own statements, the relic can no longer be restored: he admitted to breaking a glass display case and burning and crushing the stolen fragment.

Suspect's testimony and motive

According to investigators, the man acted spontaneously and was driven by a "desire to destroy" the relic. He cited as his reason the belief that the veneration of relics is a form of idolatry. The police detained the suspect after priests reported the disappearance; the exact legal classification of his actions is currently being determined.

What was damaged

The destroyed fragment, according to the parish, was located under a statue of Saint Nicholas in the basilica's chapel. However, the temple's main shrine—a bone fragment of the saint in a hand-shaped case—was not damaged and remained in place. Thus, the incident only affected one of several fragments kept in the basilica.

Symbolic context

The attack occurred several weeks before the feast day of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, which is celebrated on December 6. This day is traditionally associated with the practice of gift-giving, dating back to the image of the Bishop of Myra and becoming the basis for the image of Santa Claus in a number of cultures. The coincidence of the incident's date with the approaching holiday adds additional resonance to the event.

History of the relics of Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker lived in the 3rd–4th centuries AD and became famous for helping the poor. The main part of his relics is kept in the Italian city of Bari, from where in 1098 a fragment of the hand was brought to France, to what became the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. Other parts of the remains are in the Church of San Nicolo on the island of Lido in Venice, and small fragments of the relics are kept in churches in different countries.