CEBU CITY – A church in Liloan town, northern Cebu province has been ordered temporarily closed due to what church officials described as an “act of grave desecration.”

The Archdiocese of Cebu confirmed the closure of the Parish Church of San Fernando Rey where a woman was found dead on Friday morning, Oct. 24.

The fatality remained unidentified as police are still facing a blank wall in their investigation.

“We have yet to identify the victim. If we can identify her, maybe we can trace the man who was spotted with her before she was found dead,” said Police Lt. Col. Dindo Alaras, chief of the Liloan police.

The victim, who was believed to be in 30s, was found by a church worker slumped near the rearmost pew.

Police said a woman was heard screaming before the discovery. A man was also spotted running out of the church before she was found.

Police added that the woman bore wounds in the head and abrasions on her neck and was bleeding from the nose.

Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy was saddened by the incident which he described as “a grave act of desecration committed within a sacred place.”

“We unite in prayer for the victim’s family as we condemn in the strongest terms this act of violence committed within the very house of God,” Uy said.

Uy said the church will be temporarily closed for reparation.

Under Canon 1211 of the Code of Canon Law, the church has been desecrated due to the grave injury inflicted within its walls.

All public acts of divine worship in the parish are suspended until a penitential rite is performed to restore the church’s sanctity, Uy said.

“The exercise of divine worship is forbidden there until the injury has been repaired,” he said.