Our St. Nicholas has been stolen!

[theoforos]

A godless thief stole a precious icon of St. Nicholas from the Dormition (Uspenski) Cathedral in Helsinki today at noon. It's pretty big in size, so it's difficult to believe someone actually managed to smuggle it out. There were a lot of visitors in the church at the time of the theft. Please pray for the recovery of the icon. It feels almost like something personal has been stolen. Everyone who goes to the cathedral knows the icon and has prayed in front of it. Here's a link to pictures of the icon, don't buy it if someone tries to sell it to you. :D

http://www.ortodoksi.net/uutinen/160807uspenski.htm

[Tsarina]

If it was stolen, let's pray for whoever it is, that he/she may return it and repent.

[Anhelyna]

that is terrible :(

I'm sorry - though I will pray that it is returned to you - I have this awful feeling that it was stolen to be in someone's private collection of 'things'

Prayers that St Nicholas will be returned to you - unharmed

[Sothron]

I truly hope and pray this precious icon is returned undamaged and that the guilty are punished. If this deed moves their closer to Christ so much the better.

[nestoj]

Are those jewels on it? And precious metals? If I’m right, then I hope they don’t destroy the icon…

nestoj
God helps

[Matrona]

Oh dear. :( :crosseo:

[KoolKat]

:crosseo:

[buzuxi02]

Ironically in the past week on one of the icon threads, i spoke about a big black market for rare icons. Better if they stole it for the jewels , that way it can still be recovered and restored.

And even better we pray for its return intact.

[EmperorConstantine]

:eek:
:(

:crosseo:

[Brushstroke]

That's terrible. I hope it's recovered soon.

:(
:crosseo:

~Phil~

[Michael the Iconographer]

Are those jewels on it? And precious metals? If I’m right, then I hope they don’t destroy the icon…

nestoj
God helps

I don't get this statement. The icon is worth much more than any jewels or precious metals on the riza. Forget those things, I certainly hope it is not destroyed because it being an icon is a love letter between God and man and man and God and it would be a very serious sin to destroy something this holy that has been prayed before countless times. The comment about the jewels and precious metals is the reason I sometimes don't like to do gold leafed backgrounds on icons because people often get hung up on the gold and forget about the icon.

[Anhelyna]

Agreed Michael

but your average thief sees the jewels and doesn't understand about a Icon - to him jewels spell money - so he takes it for them.

To me it's sad - very very sad

[nestoj]

Agreed Michael

but your average thief sees the jewels and doesn't understand about a Icon - to him jewels spell money - so he takes it for them.

To me it's sad - very very sad
That was mine thought to...

nestoj
God helps

[nestoj]

I don't get this statement. The icon is worth much more than any jewels or precious metals on the riza. Forget those things, I certainly hope it is not destroyed because it being an icon is a love letter between God and man and man and God and it would be a very serious sin to destroy something this holy that has been prayed before countless times. The comment about the jewels and precious metals is the reason I sometimes don't like to do gold leafed backgrounds on icons because people often get hung up on the gold and forget about the icon.
I know that. Hope the thief does to.

nestoj
God helps

[theoforos]

Are those jewels on it? And precious metals? If I’m right, then I hope they don’t destroy the icon…

nestoj
God helps

I think it's jewels, but I'm not sure. I think there was also some jewellery people had hung there as a thank for the prayers that were heard.

It's possible the thief wanted to get the jewels and the metal (don't know what metal it is, though) and doesn't care about the icon. If that's the case lets hope they take the riza and throw away the icon and it is found. In the worst scenario they take the jewels and the metal and destroy the icon... Icons like that are very difficult to sell, the risk of getting caught is too high. That's why I think it must either be someone who wants the jewels and the metal or someone who just wants to add something to his private collection to show to his friends. Of course it also could be someone who doesn't realize how difficult it will be to sell an icon like that.

Who knows, maybe by stealing the icon they swallowed something bigger than they thought? Who knows what a visit by St. Nicholas might do to them...

[Michael the Iconographer]

Agreed Michael

but your average thief sees the jewels and doesn't understand about a Icon - to him jewels spell money - so he takes it for them.

To me it's sad - very very sad

I am sure the icon will be well protected by atleast one angel from any such destruction. Anyways, the riza is just that the riza, the important part of the icon is the very icon itself.

If I reacted wrong, I am sorry, but the tone of the post made it sound like the jewels and precious metal on the riza were more of a concern than the icon which the riza covers.

[Irish Melkite]

Prayers for the recovery of the Icon of Saint Nikolaus

Neil

(PS - happy belated birthday, Michael and may God grant you many more years in health and happiness)

[Michael the Iconographer]

Prayers for the recovery of the Icon of Saint Nikolaus

Neil

(PS - happy belated birthday, Michael and may God grant you many more years in health and happiness)
Thank you, Neil!

[Shubunkin]

Praying this will be recovered soon. :crosseo:

[nestoj]

If I reacted wrong, I am sorry, but the tone of the post made it sound like the jewels and precious metal on the riza were more of a concern than the icon which the riza covers.

It was not my intention to sound that way. I actualy thought they will take the riza and do something to icon to cover their tracks...


If I’m right, then I hope they don’t destroy the icon…


No harm taken.

nestoj
God helps

[SeekingTheLight]

I can't believe someone actually walked out of there with that, and no one noticed. So sad!

(I wish I would've thought to visit one of the churches in Helsinki when we were there a few years ago).

[TrueHope]

This is very sad indeed! Praying for a safe return of the Icon!!!!!!