All cases
Altar and Hymn Book Set on Fire inside St. Martinus Church
August 24, 2026, GermanyUnidentified individuals set fire to several objects inside St. Martinus Church in Pfalzdorf on 24 August, damaging an altar cloth, microphones, and a hymn book. Cash was also stolen from a candle donation box, and the offences are being investigated by police as criminal damage and theft.
Churches in Siegen Graffitied with Swastikas and Inverted Crosses
August 24, 2026, GermanyAs reported on 24 August 2026, two Catholic churches in Siegen were vandalised within approximately two weeks. Swastikas were painted on both churches, while several inverted crosses were also found at St. Marien Church. The use of Nazi and anti-Christian symbols prompted an investigation by the State Security Service.
Sacred Images Damaged in Ripatransone Cathedral
August 24, 2026, ItalyIn Ripanstrone, the Cathedral was burgled and damaged by four unknown criminals on 24 August. The perpetrators stole donations and deliberately damaged several sacred images, including one of the Madonna and Child, which was found smashed.
Monk Killed and Two Injured in Knife Attack at Sviatohirsk Monastery
August 23, 2026, UkraineOn 23 August 2026, unidentified individuals killed a monk and seriously wounded another monk and a novice in a knife attack near St. Nicholas Church at the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Monastery in the Donetsk region. The attack targeted members of a Christian monastic community and resulted in one death and two serious injuries. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) subsequently reported the killing, while police opened a criminal investigation.
Icons Smashed In Orthodox Church Vandalism in Southern Albania
August 23, 2026, AlbaniaThe Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius in Sinicë was found vandalised on 23 August. The perpetrators damaged icons and church furnishings, and poured cement inside the building, causing intentional damage to a place of religious and historical significance to the local community. Moreover, it has raised concerns about the security of Orthodox Christian monuments in a country that had experienced religious tensions and persecution.
Serbian Orthodox Church Vandalised Causing Security Concerns for Serbs in Kosovo
August 23, 2026, KosovoOn 23 August 2026, a man damaged two entrance doors and the exterior lighting of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Saviour in Prizren, Kosovo, an important medieval monument. The incident is the latest in a series of reported acts of vandalism affecting the historic church and comes amid broader concerns about the security of Serbian Orthodox religious sites and the Serbian community in Kosovo.
Vandals desecrate tabernacle and ransack convent during Pope's visit in San Marino
August 22, 2026, San MarinoOn 22 August, sacrilegious desecration and vandalism struck the Convent of the Servite Fathers of Valdragone during Pope Leo XIV's visit to San Marino. During the incident, the perpetrators entered the chapel, forced open the tabernacle, and, removing the ciborium, scattered the consecrated hosts outside. Members of the local community were shocked and spoke of an "extremely serious" violation of the local church.
Fifth Church Desecrated in Series of Incidents in Indre-et-Loire
August 21, 2026, FranceOn 21 August, Saint-Joseph Church in Joué-lès-Tours became the fifth church in the Indre-et-Loire region to fall victim to vandalism in one month. In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the tabernacle was forced open and consecrated hosts were found scattered on the floor. The incident has forced the church to close temporarily and caused strong emotions among the local Catholic community, which spoke of an attack on the faith and the faithful. The Diocese was prompted to announce a Mass of reparation.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen in Sacrilegious Church Burglary
August 18, 2026, ItalyOn 18 August 2026, the Church of Santo Stefano Protomartire in Oggiona con Santo Stefano was broken into and sacred objects, including a ciborium containing consecrated hosts, were stolen. The theft caused deep sadness among parishioners and affected objects of particular religious and devotional significance to the local community.
Icon, Cross, and Bibles stolen from Hospital chapel in Berlin
August 18, 2026, GermanyBetween 17 and 18 July 2026, an icon, a cross, a holy water font and a Bible were stolen from the Charité Chapel of a hospital in Berlin. Pastoral workers at the chapel commented on the "painful and hurtful" act as the perpetrators seem to have specifically targeted objects of religious significance.