All cases

Parish priest beaten by drug addicts in France

August 30, 2022, France

The priest of the Saint Saturnin Parish in Blois told 'La Tribune de l'Art' that he had been attacked by drug dealers in late August. He said: "At the end of August, I was beaten up by six junkies in the baptistery, and the mayor doesn't care."

Residents Disrupt Mass in a Spanish Town After the priest did not allow a concert inside the church

August 28, 2022, Spain

A group of about a hundred residents of Fuentesauco de Fuentidueña made this Sunday a "cacerolada" (disruption with loud noises by banging pots and other objects) at the doors of the church. They were protesting that the pries did not authorize the celebration of a concert of a local orchestra of this town in the parish church. The priest had considered that it was not a performance of church music. Due to the disruption, the priest had to call the police because he could not celebrate Mass normally due to a large crowd of people outside the church.

Girl in Samara Desecrates Grave by Mimicking a Sexual Act and Insults the Christian Orthodox Faith

August 25, 2022, Russia

An 18-year-old girl mimed a sexual act on a grave in a cemetery in Samara, topped by a cross, on 25 August. Before committing the desecration, the girl began by "talking to the dead" and then insulted the Orthodox religion, announcing that she would "commit an act that the Orthodox Church will not forgive her". The video was posted on social networks where her identity was quickly disclosed. The Samara police announced that they were opening an investigation into the incident.

Man in Russia sets fire to a church and kills the priest

August 24, 2022, Russia

On August 24, in Domodedovo, a suburb of Moscow - where one of the city's airports is located, a man killed the parish priest of the village Orthodox church and set it on fire. The motive for the murder and burning was a personal conflict between the victim and the alleged perpetrator. The perpetrator was a former Sunday school teacher of the parish who was dismissed after being inappropriate with one of the parishioners.

Thieves of Church Offering Boxes Desecrate the Tabernacle of a Church in Ceglia

August 23, 2022, Italy

On July 23, trunk robbers ransacked the church of Ceglia, breaking into the trunks and the door of the sacristy, but the also desecrated the tabernacle where they spilled the consecrated hosts on the floor. Nevertheless, the thieves abandoned the sacred vessels when they realized that they were made of brass. A mass and prayers of reparation were organized.

Organ Stolen from Church in Omonville la Rogue

August 23, 2022, France

The liturgical organ of the church of Saint Jean Baptiste in Omonville la Rogue, near the Hague, was dismantled and stolen between 23 and 28 July, along with the sound system - in fact it is a kind of harmonium. The theft is said to have been committed during the church's opening hours. The municipality has filed a complaint.

Attempt to Burn Down an Orthodox Church in North Macedonia

August 22, 2022, North Macedonia

In the village of Trebište in western North Macedonia unknown persons attempted on 22. August to set fire to the Church of St. Achilles of Larissa, built around 1840 and decorated with frescoes by Dičo Zograf (1819-1872), one of the most famous fresco painters in the Balkans in the 19th century. Damage was caused by the outbreak the fire inside the church, but it was brought under control.

Door of Romanian Church Found Locked With Chains And A Padlock

August 21, 2022, Malta

The parishioners of a Romanian Orthodox Church found the door locked with chains and a padlock on Sunday 21. August. Unknown vandals" had wrapped a chain around the iron knobs of the front door of the St. Roque's church in Valletta, they also locked the chain with a padlock. The president of the community, Fr George-Alexandru Popescu, told the newspaper that he contacted the people of the parish to see if someone had locked the doors in this way, but found out that it was an act of vandalism. Another incident had already happened in November of last year, when vandals poured gasoline on the parvis.

Theft of Altar from Church in Pontelatone

August 21, 2022, Italy

Unknown persons stole the altar and a painting from the Chapel of the Church Santa Maria dell'Orazione in Pontelatone. This was announced by the Mayor of Pontelatone, Alfonso Izzo, who recalled how the small local community continues to be the victim of thefts to the detriment of its numerous archaeological and architectural assets. The altar is a specifically sacred object that is necessary to carry out religious services. The practices of the parish is limited due to this theft.

Man Defaces a Church in Toulouse and Insults the Priest

August 21, 2022, France

A 53-year-old man from Toulouse, damaged a church and insulted the priest on Sunday 21 August. He will be judged on a preliminary admission of guilt in 2023. "He obviously did not like the church," tells France Bleu. The man admitted in police custody to have broken a wooden table in two, a vase and knocked over a candle holder in which a candle was lit, fortunately without starting a fire. The damage was estimated to cost around 1,000 euros. The man is also accused of insulting the priest. Two people present called the police who quickly arrested him.