Ancient Bone From St. Andrew Stolen From Massachusetts Church

August 11, 2008 8:47 a.m. EST

Lowell, MA (AHN) - A 2,000-year-old bone from an apostle, a sacred relic to believers, has been stolen from the altar of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.

The bone was from St. Andrew, it had been passed down through generations of a family and was given to the church six years ago. It was kept in a silver box under glass on a mantle in a wooden shrine under a painting of the saint, who was one of the 12 apostles of the biblical Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

St. Andrew is the patron saint of Greece, Scotland, Russia and Romania. Church officials reportedly believe that the thief stole the relic because they thought the silver case was valuable, a gold plated chalice was also taken.