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August 26, 2019

The Relics of Saint Natalia in Milan


The relics of Saint Natalia, commemorated on August 26th, are located in the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore in Milan. Most people don't know of her relics being in this church because they are hidden under an altar which is open away from the crowd, but those who come to venerate her are mostly Orthodox faithful.

On February 28, 2013, the skull of Saint Natalia disappeared. The disappearance is shrouded in an aura of mystery because, from a first inspection by the police, who sealed the chapel where it was stored, no signs of forced entry were found and it is not clear when the theft may have been perpetrated, also considering that the coffin was not checked every day. Furthermore, what made the loss of the relic even more difficult was the fact that the skull of Saint Natalia has always been covered by a mask, long laid down on a pillow that was always perfectly placed in its place. The thieves, therefore, would have removed the skull taking care to put back the pillow and the cover mask exactly as it had been found. The reasons for the theft are not clear. The video below reports on this theft.