Desecration at Les Sables‑d’Olonne Church: Reliquary Broken and Saint’s Skull Stolen
A break‑in at Notre‑Dame‑de‑l’Assomption resulted in the theft of a revered relic, prompting condemnation from parish and city officials.
Police investigated a desecration at Notre‑Dame‑de‑l’Assomption in Les Sables‑d’Olonne, France, after an intruder forced entry into the church on 18 December 2025, broke open the reliquary of Saint Vivant, and stole the skull it contained. Parish authorities reported the damage after finding the fractured container inside the building, and investigators worked to determine how the intruder accessed the site and removed the relic.
Abbé Antoine Nouwavi described the act as “a vile act of desecration,” while Mayor Nicolas Chénéchaud stated, “Our places of worship will remain open and alive. It is not our peaceful churches that should be closed, but the people who commit these acts who should be detained”.
A month later, while the investigation is still ongoing, the issue of the security of places of worship continues to worry parishioners.
Source: Tribune Chrétienne, le Journal du Dimanche, ouest france
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