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Russian villagers steal church
Wanted: One missing Russian church. Last seen in July. Reward for its return.
- AP
- Published: 23:54 November 13, 2008
Moscow: Wanted: One missing Russian church. Last seen in July. Reward for its return.
Orthodox officials in a central Russian region say an abandoned church building that was to be put back into use has been stolen by local villagers.
Father Vitaly of the Ivanovo-Voskresenskaya diocese says officials last saw the two-storey Church of Resurrection intact in late July.
Sometime in early October, however, people from the nearby village of Komarovo, northeast of Moscow, dismantled the building.
He says villagers apparently sold it to local businessman, 1 rouble a brick.
He told The Associated Press that "of course, this is blasphemy", adding that "these people have to realise they committed a grave sin". Vitaly says police are investigating the theft.
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