On 28 November 2024, an Orthodox church in Vicolo San Marco, Italy, was broken into and desecrated. The perpetrators stole cash, religious items, and Christmas gifts before defecating in the sacristy. Police are investigating the incident.
According to Father Ioan Catalin Lupasteanu, the parish priest, the intruders stole approximately €1,000 in donations, three crucifixes, wedding crowns, a chalice, bottles of wine, two thuribles, and sweets intended for children. They also overturned drawers, scattered documents and sacred items, and emptied the priest’s bag used for house blessings.
The discovery of human faeces in the sacristy further heightened the severity of the offence. "An act that is nothing short of blasphemous," said Father Lupasteanu who reported the incident to the police, who have launched an investigation.