A religious icon worth up to $10,000 and a donation box have been stolen from the Greek Orthodox Church Panagia Kamariani, Red Hill.
Two men attempted to jimmy open the front door of Holy Monastery of Panagia Kamariani in Red Hill, between 12.10am and 12.30am on February 10.
The offenders eventually broke in by forcing open the side door of the Arthurs Seat Road church.
The theft is the third time the framed gold-plated icon of the Virgin Mary, which was made in Greece in 1974, has been stolen.
Thieves previously made off with the icon alongside about $300,000 worth of gold chains, watches, coins and rings in both 2014 and 2016.
“A distinctive religious icon that holds significant value to the church was stolen along with a green wooden donation box containing money,” Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said.
“The silver icon … would cost between $5,000 to $10,000 to replace.”
Investigators have released images and CCTV in the hope someone may recognise the men.
Father Eleftherios spoke to
“Ta Nea” Newspaper and expressed his deepest disappointment. He is asking the thieves to return the treasured icon of Virgin Mary back to the Church and all is forgiven.
