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Greek police stage massive hunt for stolen 'miracle' icon ATHENS (AP) — Police set up roadblocks and launched helicopter searches Saturday for a 700-year-old religious icon that was stolen from a monastery in southern Greece. The Icon of The Virgin Mary, which is credited with miracles, was reported missing Friday at the Orthodox Christian monastery of Elona, near the town of Leonidio, 185 miles southwest of Athens. "This is the worst thing that could happen to us, our church and our religion," said Metropolitan Bishop Alexandros of Mantineia and Kynouria. Alexandros described the icon, which measures 16 by 20 inches, as "priceless." Alexandros said he believes the robbers had used climbing equipment to reach the monastery, which is built into the face of a cliff. The robbers may have been hiding on the monastery grounds before it closed for the evening Thursday, Alexandros said. Thousands of worshippers visit the icon each year, most around Aug. 15, an Orthodox Christian religious holiday in honor of the Virgin Mary. |