Arkansas
Arkansas monastery desecrated with sledgehammer, relics stolen; suspect arrested
A suspect has been apprehended for the desecration of a monastery altar in Subiaco, Arkansas.
On Thursday, Jan. 5, a vandal entered the Subiaco Abbey with a sledgehammer and bashed open the highest of the altar.
Utilizing a sledgehammer, a standard hammer, and an axe, the vandal dug into the slab of stone and stole two reliquaries containing three relics.
The person reportedly started tampering with the tabernacle, eradicating the cross sitting atop it, earlier than being found and fleeing.
“By piecing collectively the testimony from a number of witness who had seen a wierd man on campus earlier, we have been pretty assured that we had seen him beforehand in our Church,” Subiaco Abbey mentioned in an official press launched. “Out of an abundance of warning, our Academy college students have been locked down whereas the investigation proceeded.”
Nonetheless, the investigation didn’t have to look far.
The abbey recounted, “Mockingly, after the deputies had left, the gentleman in query determined to return to the Church. The Logan County deputies have been known as and so they rapidly returned. Certainly one of our monks spoke to the gentleman, and it grew to become clear he was the one who had performed the harm. He was arrested, his automobile towed, and additional investigations are ongoing.”
Jerrid Farnam, 31, was arrested Thursday in reference to the vandalism and theft.
One of many stolen reliquaries was reportedly recovered from Farnam’s automobile, containing all three stolen relics.
Authorities additionally discovered a sledgehammer and different instruments believed to have been used within the crime.
A relic is a mortal stay of a saint — usually a fraction of their physique. Relics are sometimes positioned inside Catholic altars upon consecration. The Catholic Church teaches that it is a continuation of an early Christian apply of celebrating mass over the tombs of different martyred Christians.
Commercial
Commercial
The relics stolen from Subiaco Abbey reportedly belonged to St. Tiberius, St. Marcellu, and St. Justina.
“As a result of desecration of the altar, Abbot Elijah and the monastic neighborhood will undertake the ‘Public Prayer after the Desecration of a Church.’ In accordance with the prescriptions, the altar of the church has been stripped naked and all customary indicators of pleasure and gladness have been put away,” Subiaco Abbey introduced.