Penza, 9 June 2012. PenzaNews. Chest with holy relics of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, St. Mitrophan Voronezh, Dmitry Salunsky, St. Anfipody Pochaevsky, Blessed Matrona of Moscow and of 14 thousand holy infants slain in Bethlehem, as well as the Belt of Blessed Virgin Mary were stolen from St. Nicholas Church in Penza on Friday, June 8. This was reported by the inspector of the press-service of the Office of Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Penza region Lyubov Pashkova.

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“A triggering signal of an emergency call button from St. Nicholas Church was detected at 2 pm on June 8. Police immediately went to the address provided,” the inspector said.

She added that it was the rector of the church, Farther Alexander, who reported the police that during the period from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. an unknown person had stolen the chest with holy relics.

“A parishioner who was in the church noticed a suspicious young man with a bag in his hands. Then the woman described the signs of the suspect,” Lyubov Pashkova noted.

The suspect was arrested with the stolen.

“He turned to be an unemployed, previously unconvicted resident of Penza. The young man could not clearly explain to the police, for what purpose he committed the crime,” Lyubov Pashkova said.

An inquiry into this incident is being conducted.