Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor
Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Police are searching for the person who stole a religious relic nearly 800 years old from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in downtown Long Beach Monday morning.
Officials with the Los Angeles Archdiocese said the relic of St. Anthony and the 16-inch case, or reliquary, that is stored in were taken from a church cabinet.
The church rarely showcases the relic and says it’s so valuable it had been nine years since it was on public display.
“There’s some tough times right now out in the economy,” said Father Jose Magana, the pastor at the church near 6th Street and Olive Avenue. “People are losing hope. So we said let’s bring the image, let’s bring the relic so people can pray with it and get close to it.”
In Catholicism, St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost or missing things.
The 16 inch relic believed to be close to 780 years old had been kept in case with angel-shaped handles.
Father Magana says he doesn’t regret his decision to showcase the relic and is confident someone will return it.
Police have a person of interest and she is described as someone who had shown unusual interest in the relic. She is also described as a Hispanic woman, 35 to 45 years old, about 5 feet 2 inches tall, with dark brown hair.
Police believe the person who took it may not know its historical value nor what it’s worth.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Long Beach Police Department at (562) 570-5590.
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