The following was posted at paradosis yahoo group on December 26, 2012:
The Holy Transfiguration Cathedral of Los Angeles experienced a
frightful robbery recently.
Here is what Mitred Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff, the Rector, wrote to
me today: '
""Thank God the perpetrator took none of our icons, and left everything
in the church intact, so that the services on Sunday morning went on as
usual. None of the tabernacles or antimensia were touched. Pages were
ripped out of two Gospels (one our large pre-Revolutionary one) and
strewn on the floor. But all of our chalices and all liturgical
appurtenances were taken (patens, asterisks, spoons, spears, etc.). I
had one spare small set downstairs, so we were able to serve Liturgy.The
preliminary calculation of the loss is $50,000--but the
pre-revolutionary Chalice set is priceless and irreplaceable.We do need
to find two more chalices to borrow, Communion spoons, and spears. I
willl talk to Fr. Alexey also.I ask for your prayers for my flock our
clergy and for myself in these difficult times."
Please find a way to help that parish, including praying.+Tikhon
Bishop OCA retired
We need to be careful. Is there not a place where the sacred vessels can be stored and locked up?
These thieves were either atheistic or communists as they destroyed two Gospel books.