The Fight Against Sacred Heritage A War On Civilization Itself
(ANALYSIS) Once sacred grounds of reverence and reflection, Greece’s religious sites are now play areas for thieves and vandals. For millennia, these places — homes of worship perched on rugged cliffs, hidden chapels nestled in olive groves — have been sanctuaries of peace.
Pilgrims would journey across continents to light candles beneath their frescoed domes, whisper prayers into the cool stone walls, and gaze upon centuries-old icons bathed in flickering candlelight. These sites are much more than buildings. They are living testaments to Greece’s spiritual, cultural and historical identity.
Yet today, that serenity is under attack. In 2023, Greece recorded almost 600 incidents of theft, vandalism and desecration targeting Orthodox churches — the highest on record — surpassing the 564 reported the previous year.
The perpetrators?
Some are opportunists snatching cash from donation boxes; others are more organized, dismantling copper baptismal fonts, wooden fittings and massive church bells. Twenty bells vanished in a single year—two of them weighing 800 kilograms, stolen from a church in Acharnes. Such crimes are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern threatening Greece’s religious heritage.
Which begs another question: Why is this happening?
Economic hardship is a key driver. While Greece’s financial crisis may officially be over, many communities continue to grapple with poverty and unemployment. Often situated in remote villages with minimal security, churches present easy targets for thieves looking to make quick money.
Of course, the plundering of cultural and religious heritage is not new. In truth, it is as old as civilization itself. Throughout history, mercenaries and miscreants alike have looted treasures to flex their muscles or amass wealth. In Ancient Egypt, tombs, especially royal ones, were looted shortly after burial despite elaborate traps and curses.
Temples were raided for gold, precious stones and sacred objects. Ancient Rome pillaged Greece’s temples and sculptures. Napoleon’s troops carted off artifacts from across Europe. In more recent times, the Nazis systematically looted cultural treasures during World War II, many of which remain missing to this day. What we are witnessing in 2025 is simply a modern manifestation of this age-old crime, amplified by technology and global commerce (more on this in a minute).
In Afghanistan — the land once conquered by Alexander the Great — the story is just as grim. Dozens of archaeological sites have been bulldozed, raided and stripped of their heritage. After analyzing satellite images, researchers at the University of Chicago recently provided definitive evidence that looting patterns, which began under previous governments, have not only persisted but accelerated since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Entire swathes of Afghanistan’s ancient history are being erased, artifacts plucked and funneled into shady, global markets.
Turkey, too, mirrors this troubling trend. Attacks on Christian sites there have surged in the last decade, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Compounding this issue is Turkey’s high rate of non-compliance with European Court of Human Rights judgments, underscoring a broader disregard for protecting religious minorities and their cultural legacies.
What makes the current crisis especially alarming is the role of modern technology and global commerce in amplifying this age-old crime. The rise of online marketplaces and various communication platforms has poured gasoline on a fire that has been burning for centuries. In the past, selling stolen artifacts involved navigating nebulous networks and dodging vigilant customs officials.
Today, looters can connect with buyers across the world at the click of a button. Encrypted apps provide anonymity, while online auction sites —sometimes unwittingly, sometimes willfully blind — offer a global storefront for trafficked relics. An ancient icon stolen from a Greek chapel can be listed on a foreign marketplace within hours, purchased by a collector thousands of miles away who may never face legal repercussions.
The economic incentive is, for lack of a better word, staggering. As demand for “authentic” religious and cultural artifacts grows among private collectors, the market for stolen goods flourishes. Each successful theft emboldens criminal networks, making the looting not just a local crime but part of an international supply chain. It’s cultural vandalism on a global scale, with middlemen, dealers and buyers complicit in robbing entire communities of their heritage.
The consequences run deeper than the loss of physical objects. These thefts are direct assaults on cultural memory and communal identity. When a church bell that has rung for generations is stolen, it’s not just metal that disappears — it’s the echo of countless weddings, funerals and festivals that once bound communities together. When a centuries-old icon is pried from its altar, it isn’t just wood and paint being taken; it’s a piece of a community’s soul, a connection to ancestors, rituals and stories that transcend time.
Reversing this trend demands more than improved security measures. Fences, cameras and alarm systems are essential, but they cannot solve a crisis perpetuated by global greed and cultural amnesia. Real change requires international cooperation to crack down on the black market, stricter enforcement of laws governing cultural property and greater accountability for platforms that facilitate illegal sales.
Moreover, there must be a renewed emphasis on education and cultural awareness, both in countries where these crimes occur and among potential buyers abroad. Until the global community sees cultural heritage as a shared responsibility rather than a niche concern, these thefts will continue unabated.
John Mac Ghlionn is a researcher and essayist. He covers psychology and social relations. His writing has appeared in places such as UnHerd, The US Sun and The Spectator World.