1C

Any initial thoughts why someone would steal the reliquary?

I assumed it was going to be sold for as much money as possible.

All that I've ever read about reliquaries are that they are generally made of gold metals and jewels, a fitting "home" for something valuable, so that alone that would be worth a lot of money...or something valuable would more than likely be contained in it...again money.

Money would be the primary object for the theft. I do wonder though if the religious significance could be used as a destabilising influence on a Government. Here in the Uk that would be less likely as society is more secular than in the past but in a deeply religious country such a loss would be deeply felt by the populace.

It might also be used as a bribe - I’m sure there are private collectors that would give an eye tooth for such a reliquary.

Since it has great value I can only assume it is for financial gain.

Wondered if it was stolen for a private collector. Also interesting thoughts about using it to influence a government. >4 Maura49:

I thought they were stealing the relics for admission to an auction. This relic was known as the Holy Blood and was dated May 3, 1388 so very old and worth a lot of money.

Agree - it was stolen for some sort of gain, either political or financial. And here's more history that Cotton is bringing my way: the fact that there are seven "official" Arma Christi. I've read about many Christian artifacts during medieval and Renaissance Europe, and how their veneration is what led Martin Luther to his 99 theses. But Christian artifacts in our modern world? Did not have a clue.