Showbiz

Boy George returns stolen icon to church

Published Thursday, Jan 20 2011, 19:50 GMT | By Mike Moody

Boy George at the Pride London Festival. London, England.

Boy George has returned a stolen post-Byzantine icon of Jesus Christ he bought to the Cyprus Orthodox Church.

According to AFP, the singer unwittingly purchased the artefact in 1985 from a London art dealer after it was taken from Saint Charalambos church in the village of Neo Chorio Kythreas in Turkish-held northern Cyprus.

A priest recognised the icon hanging on George's wall during a televised interview filmed at the star's house.

"The singer agreed to return the icon, expressing his wish that it is returned soon to the church from which it was illegally removed and hoped others follow his example," the church said in a statement.

The former Culture Club frontman said that he was "happy the icon is going back to its original, rightful home".

He added: "I look forward to seeing the icon on display in Cyprus for the moment and finally to the Church of Saint Charalambos from where it was illegally stolen."