---
title: "A fragment of the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker stolen and destroyed in France"
description: "A fragment of the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker was stolen and destroyed in the French Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. The suspect admitted to burning and crushing the relic, considering its veneration to be idolatry."
date: 2026-11-11T16:17:16.416Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fragment-of-saint-nicholas-relics-destroyed-in-france
tags: [saint-nicholas, relics-theft, france, christianity, cultural-heritage]
author: "Roman V., Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

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

![Neon glowing cross on a dark background, symbolizing the religious theme of the article](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/11/ukraden-i-unichtozhen-fragment-moschey-nikolaya-chudotvorca/ukraden-i-unichtozhen-fragment-moschey-nikolaya-chudotvorca-1.webp)

## Key Points

- A fragment of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker's relics was stolen and destroyed at the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port in France; priests reported the theft on November 2.
- The detained suspect admitted to breaking the display, burning, and crushing the relic, citing a fight against "idolatry" as his motive.
- The basilica's main shrine—a bone fragment in a hand-shaped case—was not damaged; the incident happened weeks before the saint's feast day on December 6.

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Во Франции похитили и уничтожили частицу мощей Николая Чудотворца](https://meduza.io/news/2026/11/11/vo-frantsii-pohitili-i-unichtozhili-chastitsu-moschey-nikolaya-chudotvortsa) - Original source: report date November 2, arrest of the suspect, his confession to burning and crushing the relic, motive, safety of the main shrine, history of the relics.
- [Из базилики Сен-Николя-де-Пор похитили и сожгли частицу мощей Николая Чудотворца](https://newizv.ru/news/2026-11-10/iz-baziliki-sen-nikolya-de-por-pohitili-i-sozhgli-chastitsu-moschey-nikolaya-chudotvortsa-447218) - Confirms the report by the Saint Nicholas parish in Lorraine regarding the theft and destruction of the relic fragment.
- [Во Франции мужчина украл и сжег частицу мощей Николая Чудотворца](https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/6af306e0ce09fdd5bb921c50) - Confirms the arrest, confession to burning and crushing the relic; describes the stolen item as a medallion containing a relic fragment.
- [Преступник во Франции украл и сжег частицу мощей Николая Чудотворца](https://vm.ru/news/1372900-prestupnik-vo-francii-ukral-i-szheg-chasticu-moshej-nikolaya-chudotvorca) - Confirms the destruction of the relic fragment by fire and the source of information – the parish's social media page.

## FAQ

### When and where did the theft take place?

Priests of the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port in France reported the theft on November 2; the incident took place in the basilica's chapel, where a fragment of the relics was kept under the saint's statue.

### What happened to the stolen relic?

According to the detainee's admission, he broke the glass display case and then burned and crushed the stolen fragment, making it impossible to restore.

### Was the basilica's main shrine damaged?

No. The bone fragment of Saint Nicholas in a hand-shaped case, which is the main shrine of the basilica, was not damaged and remained in place.

### Where are the main relics of Saint Nicholas kept?

The main part of the relics is kept in Bari, Italy; a hand fragment was brought to France in 1098, other parts are in the Church of San Nicolo on the Lido in Venice, and small fragments are in churches in other countries.