The Holy Monastery of Panagia Kamariani in Red Hill, Victoria, has been burgled for the third time, the perpetrators taking a donation box and precious icon.
CCTV footage from the incident, which took place between 12.10 am and 12.30 am on Monday 10 February, appears to show two males involved in the break in at the Arthurs Seat Road site.
They are believed to have forced open the side door of the church to gain entry.
The thieves took a green wooden donation box that contained money, the sum unknown, as well as an icon of the Virgin Mary that was made in Greece in 1974 and worth up to $10,000.
It is the third time that the icon has been stolen from the church, the first in 2014 and again in 2016.
Speaking to Ta Nea, parish priest Father Lefteri appealed for the icon’s return.
“I won’t hold a grudge; simply return the icon to us. It is historic and miraculous,” he said.
Neos Kosmos spoke with Glykeria Andrioti, Secretary of the parish, who said that the church community is still in shock, and yet to receive any leads on the whereabouts of the stolen items.
Victoria Police has released CCTV images of the two men inside the church in the hope someone may recognise them.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
* Interview by Sotiris Hatzimanolis.