South Africa's oldest cathedral vandalised

Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt Cathedral

Source: Fides

South Africa's oldest cathedral, Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt in Cape Town was desecrated on the night of 18 April.

Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Town, Most Rev Sylvester David, said in a statement: "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."

Bishop 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."

The Cathedral, located in Cape Town city opposite the Parliament buildings, had been closed because of regulations to curb Covid-19. No other damage was done. As the oldest cathedral in South Africa, it is described as 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.