Sacrilegious Theft Targets Relics of Saint Serenus in Biandrate Church
Unknown perpetrators broke into the crypt of the parish church in Biandrate, smashed the glass of the shrine containing the relics of Saint Serenus, and stole a golden crucifix, rings and other devotional objects. For the local Catholic community, the damage to the shrine and the disturbance of the saint's relics constituted a particularly grave act of desecration.
On 5 June 2026, at least three hooded individuals entered the crypt of the parish church in Biandrate, where the relics of Saint Serenus are preserved.
The perpetrators shattered the glass of the shrine containing the saint's relics before stealing a valuable golden crucifix and approximately six rings kept within or alongside the shrine. They also removed the crown from a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, taking another object of religious and devotional significance.
Beyond the financial loss, the incident deeply affected the local Catholic community because it involved damage to the shrine containing the relics of a venerated saint. In the Catholic tradition, relics are objects of particular religious significance, and interference with their place of veneration is regarded as a serious act of desecration.
The perpetrators reportedly fled using an internal staircase connecting the parish house to the raised crypt. Although the church's surveillance cameras did not provide images sufficient for identification, investigators are examining footage from a nearby sports centre.
Source: lastampa, notiziaoggi.it
Photo: wikipedia