Stolen Religious Items Turn Up at Watertown Greek Church

Father Demetrios Tonias didn't know his cell phone was blowing up during morning services Friday, but afterward he checked and learned that religions items stolen from the Taxiarchea/Archangel Greek Orthodox Church were back.

"Once I finished the services my phone was going off. People were trying to reach me.'" Tonias said. "They said 'go check bout behind the church.' I was still in my vestments, and sure enough a bag was there."

The bag contained a number of ecclesiastical items that someone took from the church in late-March.

"They were the starting lineup, if you will, of ecclesiastical items," Tonias said. "It's nice to have them back in use again, and nice to know they weren't melted down and sold for scrap or put in a dumpster."

Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who attends the church, said she was "ecstatic" when she learned the ecclesiastical items had been recovered.

The items surfaced Friday, the week after Pascha - Greek Orthodox Easter - which is known as Bright Week.

"It's a very bright week," Tonias said.

Although the items were returned to the church, they were immediately handed over to the Watertown Police Department to be examined. Tonias said he is not sure if every item stolen was in the bag. 

He hopes to have the items back soon, but realizes that the police have been busy. The time since the items went missing has has been crazy in area near the church. The shootout between police and the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects was just blocks from the church.

"Seeing what the Watertown Police have done over the last month, not just for us, but for the entire community, you really have an opportunity to see these guys and women shine," Tonias said.