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Stolen Bell Returned to Historic Pueblo Orthodox Church
A stolen Russian-made church bell mysteriously returned to its Pueblo parish days after it disappeared.
PUEBLO, CO — A church bell stolen from Archangel Michael Orthodox Church in Pueblo has been returned, several days after it was taken from the historic parish.
The Rev. Zechariah Lynch, the church’s priest, said the bell was left outside the church Thursday afternoon, shortly after he spoke with KRDO13 about the theft. Church officials do not yet know who returned it or why, and no information was provided about the circumstances surrounding its disappearance and return.
The bell was the second-largest of five bells at the church and was among a set crafted in Russia for the parish’s 100th anniversary in 2003. Archangel Michael Orthodox Church, which has been part of the Pueblo community since 1903, considers its bells sacred because they call worshippers to prayer and services.
The bell was discovered missing Aug. 8 after Lynch found a large hole cut into the church’s perimeter fence. He said it appeared someone also attempted to remove a smaller bell but abandoned it. The Pueblo Police Department received a report about the theft, while the church had appealed to the public for information.
Previously, the UOJ reported that a sacred image of Christ came home after nearly 100 years.
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