Christ Figure Found Destroyed in Grainau
In late September 2026, an approximately 120-year-old wooden figure of Christ at the Baschner Cross near the Jägersteig in Grainau was found torn down from the cross and smashed into pieces. The incident has shocked local residents, as this was the second reported attack on the figure, and it will now be repaired for the second time. The parish priest has called for forgiveness in the matter, though still affirmed that such an incident affects the local community and not only Christians.
The Baschner Cross was the target of an act of vandalism in late September. The figure of Christ was found to be torn from the wayside cross near the Jägersteig. Johann Ostler, who has cared for the cross for around 25 years, discovered that the 120-year-old carved wooden figure of Christ was missing from the cross. He subsequently found the figure nearby in the forest, where it had been broken into numerous pieces. The damage included severed legs, a broken arm and extensive damage to the body.
This was the second time the Cross had been targeted. Three years prior, unknown perpetrators had attacked the same figure, tearing off its head. The sculptor who repaired it the first time, reportedly stated that a restoration would not be so easy this time: "The figure is so damaged...I found many individual pieces...that it probably can't be hung up again."
The local parish priest, Fr. Josef Konitzer, expressed dismay at the latest destruction and stated "It's not just about the Christian message, but also about the people for whom such a cross means something." Fr. Konitzer also called on people to choose the path of forgiveness in this matter, just as Christ did before his crucifixion.
Source: merkur
Symbolic Image: Pixabay