A video showing a man messing around and posing with a stolen statue of Jesus Christ before smashing it on the pavement has gone viral, prompting outrage after footage from a church’s security cameras was shared widely online.

The incident happened in Vilnius, Lithuania and what might have seemed like a drunken prank for the culprits, the incident has left a local community and congregation saddened, angered and without a statue to gathered around for prayer.

CCTV captures moment statue shatters on pavement

The footage shows two men outside the Shrine of Divine Mercy on Dominikonų Street in Vilnius Old Town. One is sitting on a bench while the other approaches holding the statue, which had been removed from a wooden cross in the church’s courtyard. The man appears to be showing off the figure while his companion takes photographs. As he handles it, the statue’s arms break off and the rest crashes onto the pavement, shattering into pieces.

The man reacts with an exclamation of ‘Oh my God!’ before both men leave the scene. The CCTV footage was subsequently shared by the church’s vice-rector, Elijas Anatolijus Markauskas, and spread rapidly across social media. The images prompted widespread criticism, particularly from people who regarded the destruction of the religious figure as an insult to the local Christian community.

A suspected intoxicated person tore a statue of Jesus off a church cross and tried to take a photo with it- moments later, it shattered on the pavement. That’s Vilnius nightlife just days ago. Police launched a pre-trial investigation and are searching for the suspect. https://t.co/KmVGY1TaPN

— Auraja ‡ (@Twee_Papillon) November 14, 2026

Church priest offers to forgive the man

The incident was particularly upsetting for the church community because the sculpture was displayed on a cross in the sanctuary’s courtyard, a place used by worshippers for prayer. Markauskas said he had spent hours reviewing security camera recordings to understand what had happened. He also made clear that he did not believe the incident was necessarily motivated by hostility towards Christianity.

He suggested the men may have been drinking before arriving at the church and believed the statue had been broken accidentally rather than as part of a planned religious attack. The vice-rector also expressed a willingness to meet the man responsible, saying he wanted to see him in person rather than simply condemn him from a distance.

Police identify suspect after viral footage

Lithuanian police initially appealed for information to identify the men after the footage began circulating online. Investigators examined security recordings and appealed to residents and businesses in the Old Town for help. On Saturday, November 14, police announced that they had identified a suspect, the man was questioned and formally notified that he was suspected of involvement in the offence. Police also confiscated his identity document as a precautionary measure while the investigation continues.

The case is being investigated under Lithuania’s Criminal Code, concerning the desecration of a grave or another place of public respect. Despite reports describing the men as drunk British tourists, Some observers online with a good sense of humour we’re quick to point out that the man was wearing gloves therefore was unlikely to have been a British tourist. police have not confirmed their nationality.