The relics of St. Anastasia Pharmakolytria are in the hands of bandits after the burglary of the Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of the same Saint in Thessaloniki.
The robbery took place, as estimated by police, on the evening of April 22 towards April 23, most likely in the morning on the feast of St. George.
According to preliminary information the burglary took place at night some time from 10pm until 5:40 the morning of April 23, and the robbers had to "open" five doors to get inside the Katholikon of the Monastery and to commit the unholy act of grabbing their sacred "prey".
The reliquary with the skull of St. Anastasia, the shrine with the feet of the Saint, a reliquary with fragment relics of St. Anastasia, St. Paraskevi and St. Modestos, and a modern art blessing cross was on the Holy Altar and an empty reliquary is now in the hands of robbers.
Note that these shrines are dated after 1830, ie after the burning of the Monastery. They also broke the Candle Stands and removed an unknown amount of the offerings of the faithful as well as items for sale from the showroom of the Monastery.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
