37 religious items stolen from Russian Orthodox church in Hollywood

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Los Angeles police continued their investigation Monday into the theft of nearly 40 religious artifacts from a Russian Orthodox church in Hollywood.

Thirty-seven items were taken from an altar room at the Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Cathedral the night of Dec. 22, Los Angeles police said. No arrests have been made in the case.

The church at 5432 Fernwood Ave. confirmed it was ‘looted and desecrated’ in a statement posted on its website, saying other holy items were damaged in addition to those stolen.

‘The perpetrator or perpetrators tried to pry off the gold-plated covers from the Liturgical Gospels and Apostle Books,’ the website read. ‘Pages were torn out from the Liturgical Gospels and strewn before the Holy Table.’

The list of stolen items included a baptismal kit, chalices and crosses, the church said. The Los Angeles Police Department posted pictures of the missing items online, and asked anyone with information to call detectives at (213) 972-2931 or Crimestoppers at (800) 222-8477.

‘We ask your holy prayers for our parish and your support during these difficult days,’ the church said. ‘O God, be merciful to us sinners and have mercy on us!’

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— Kate Mather

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