LOWELL, Mass. (AP) – The pastor of a Greek Orthodox church in Lowell says a silver box containing a 2,000-year-old bone from one of the apostles has been stolen.

The Rev. Demetrios Costarakis of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church says the box containing a bone from St. Andrew was taken from the church sometime this week.

Costarakis says the relic is priceless and calls the theft “heartbreaking.”

Costarakis says the bone was kept under glass. The relic was passed down through many generations until the church acquired it about six years ago.

The container sat on a mantel in a wooden shrine beneath a painting of St. Andrew.

Police are investigating.