**Grave robbers in Cyprus have stolen the remains of two archbishops from a cemetery in the city of Nicosia.**The coffins of the men, who led the island’s Greek Orthodox church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were found to be missing by police.
The thefts come less than two weeks after three men were held over the theft of the corpse of a former Cyprus President, Tassos Papadopoulos.
His corpse was stolen three months ago, but recovered after a tip-off.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said: “It appears that we’re dealing with another sacrilege and unfortunately, is seems that there are some people in this society with very sick minds.”
The thefts were discovered after police officers responded to a pre-dawn fire at a church.
The remains of Sofronios III and Kyrillos II had been stolen, while the tomb of a third churchman, Kyrillos III, had been disturbed, officials said.
The body of Tassos Papadopoulos was stolen on 11 December last year, one day before a memorial service was to be held to mark the first anniversary of his death from lung cancer.
Police had described the theft as “deliberate and carefully planned”, with a marble slab weighing 250kg (40st) lifted to dig up the grave.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca said the thieves had made a ransom demand, although no money was paid.