The artifact, a golden icon of Christ, had been hanging above the singer's fireplace for 26 years, until the piece was recognized by a patron watching a TV interview of O'Dowd, which was taped in the singer's living room. The icon is thought to have been stolen around 1974, during the chaotic time of the Turkish invasion of the Northern part of Cyprus, and there is documentation to believe that the icon was once housed in The Church of St. Charalambos in Neo Chorio-Kythrea. O'Dowd was unaware that the icon had been stolen because he bought the artifact "with good faith" from an art dealer in 1985.
For 26 years, a golden image of Christ hung above the singer's fireplace until it was identified by a patron watching a TV interview with O'Dowd, which took place in the singer's living room. The icon is thought to have been stolen around 1974 during the tumultuous period of the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus, and there are records indicating that it was previously housed in the Church of St. Charalambos in Neo Chorio-Kythrea. O'Dowd had no knowledge of the theft because he purchased the artifact from an art dealer in 1985 with good intentions.