After Theft - Reconciliation Church Orders New Nail Cross - Sacred Nail Cross Stolen and Damaged at Dachau Memorial Site
A nail cross, a symbol of peace and reconciliation, has been stolen and damaged from the Protestant Reconciliation Church at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. The theft occurred over the weekend, with the perpetrators remaining unknown.
The nail cross, part of the global Nail Cross Centers network since 2012, holds immense symbolic significance for the Reconciliation Church. Every Friday, an ecumenical prayer for reconciliation is held around the cross, following a tradition inspired by Coventry Cathedral.
The thief attempted to pry open a donation box using the nail cross, causing damage to the symbol itself. Despite its modest material value, the cross represents peace, justice, and reconciliation, making its theft deeply distressing. A replica has been commissioned, but it may not be ready in time for an upcoming Christian-Jewish memorial service on November 14.
The theft of the nail cross has left the Reconciliation Church and the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site community shaken. Authorities are investigating the incident, with no evidence suggesting the thief had any connection to Coventry. The church continues to promote its message of peace and reconciliation, awaiting the arrival of the replica cross.
