Reliquary with Saint Spyridon relics stolen from church in Belarus

Relics of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous. Photo: Minsk Regional Executive Committee Police Department (“Minsk Region Police”)

On November 2, 2025, in the Belarusian town of Biarezino, a reliquary containing a fragment of the relics of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous was stolen from the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Minsk Regional Police Department (“Minsk Region Police”) reported.

According to law enforcement officials, the church treasurer reported the disappearance of the shrine. The preliminary material loss was estimated at 900 Belarusian rubles, though, as the police noted, the true spiritual value of the relic “cannot be expressed in money.”

Investigators determined that two men, intoxicated at the time, decided to steal the relic with the intent to sell it and buy alcohol. They sold the reliquary at a local market for only 20 rubles.

The perpetrators were quickly detained, and the holy item was recovered and returned to the church. An official investigation is underway.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Belarusian Church had called for prayers ahead of the court hearing on the possible ban of the UOC Metropolis.

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