«It is with great sadness and alarm that we confirm the news that has been doing the rounds on Social Media, that the Cathedral had been vandalized and that a ciborium, a pyx, four silver candelabra, a gold plated chalice, and two gold plated patens have been stolen together with some money from the votive candles box», said Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Town Archdiocese, Sylvester David, according to Fides News Agency. The bishop confirmed that Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt Cathedral of South Africa’s Cape Town Archdiocese was desecrated on the night of April 18.
Archbishop David added: «The consecrated hosts from the ciborium have been left inside the tabernacle but the host from the pyx has been removed. There has been desecration».
It is the oldest cathedral in South Africa and is therefore considered the mother church to all Catholics in Southern Africa, the Cathedral was consecrated on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt on April 28, 1851. It is located in Cape Town city, directly opposite the Parliament Houses.
«The church has been closed according to regulations to curb Covid-19.
