Criminal in France destroys stolen fragment of Saint Nicholas's relics

Relic destruction and confession to the crime

An act of vandalism was committed in the French town of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, resulting in the loss of part of a holy relic. A man stole a medallion from the local basilica, which contained a fragment of Saint Nicholas's relics. After the theft, the suspect burned and crushed the bone fragment, completely destroying the item. This was reported by the publication Tribune de France.

The perpetrator has already been detained and has given a full confession. He is currently in custody, and his case will be heard by a court in the near future.

Details of the incident

The incident took place on 28 October. The medallion with the relic was located under the statue of Saint Nicholas in the basilica's chapel. A small glass case contained a bone fragment measuring approximately 1–2 centimetres.

Dani Burquin, president of the "Knowledge and Revival of the Basilica" association, clarified that the stolen item did not belong to the main relics kept in the church treasury. This relic was installed in the chapel in the early 2000s.

The clergyman reported the disappearance to the police on 1 November. Police identified the suspect and detained him at home. During interrogation, the man stated that he broke the protective glass to access the contents and then destroyed them with fire and mechanical pressure.

Motives and authorities' reaction

According to the Saint-Nicolas-en-Lorraine parish, the detained man justified his actions with a spontaneous desire to destroy an object he perceived as a symbol of "fetishism".

The authorities of the Saint-Nicolas-de-Port commune condemned the act, calling it a loss for historical and religious heritage. The municipality also announced its intention to be present at the court hearing.

Statistics on crimes against churches

The publication Tribune de France notes that this is the third case of theft or vandalism in this basilica since the beginning of 2026. The situation remains tense at the national level: in 2025, 538 thefts of religious items from churches were registered in France, a 10% increase compared to the previous year.

Traditional procession to take place as planned

Despite what happened, the traditional torchlight procession in honour of Saint Nicholas has not been cancelled. The event will take place on 5 December at 20:30 at the basilica. According to the Destination Nancy tourism office, this event attracts around 10,000 people every year. This year, the 780th procession will be held, marking the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Nancy, which took place on 4 January 1477.

Briefly about Saint Nicholas

Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nicholas of Myra) is one of the most revered Christian saints, who lived in the 3rd–4th centuries. He held the position of Archbishop of the city of Myra in Lycia (in the territory of modern-day Turkey). According to church traditions, the saint became famous for helping the poor, healings, and performing numerous miracles. In Orthodoxy, his memory is commemorated on 19 December, and 22 May is the day of the translation of his relics.

The main part of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker is kept in the Italian city of Bari. In 1087, Italian sailors transported the saint's remains from Myra in Lycia and delivered them to Bari, where a basilica of Saint Nicholas was built for them. Another part of the relics is located in Venice, on the island of Lido. Individual fragments of the saint's relics are kept in churches and monasteries around the world.