The church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in Guercheville (Seine-et-Marne) was the target of vandalism on the night of 13 December. Parishioners in the village raised the alarm after discovering the symbol 666 with an "S" on the front door.
"The number is a satanic symbol - the number of the beast - which refers to the end of the world," explains Father José Antonini , episcopal vicar: The "s" that follows is also an explicit reference to Satan. This desecration is a serious offence to the Church and to the inhabitants, just a few days before Christmas". A Mass of reparation will soon be held in the church.
The church, as the occupier of the building, has filed a complaint, as has the town hall, as the owner of the land. A police investigation has been launched following reports of damage to the listed building.
"We are all shocked by this attack, but as far as I know this is the first time such acts have been committed here," confided Father Frédéric Desquilbet , the priest of Nemours. Residents spontaneously came to erase the inscriptions.