Authorities are looking into how old calendar Orthodox priests entered livestock compounds in quarantined Aradippou areas to sprinkle Holy Water on sheep in a symbolic blessing to prevent them from being infected by foot and mouth.
The complaint was initiated by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, who received reports that three priests from the Old Calendar 'Authentic Orthodox Christians' dogma, broke the quarantine to enter the farms.
Α service and prayer was held by the Old Calendarists, not recognised by the Church of Cyprus, at the Saint Spyridon church in Aradippou, with the priests invoking divine power to prevent livestock from being infected.
The priests then entered the farms in violation of the quarantine, sprinkled holy water and chanted divine appeals to protect the animals. Livestock farmers present at the ceremony were also sprinkled.
The Old Calendarists issued a statement saying they did not break any rules.
Meanwhile, a gathering took place at the Holy Metropolitan Church of Saint Spyridon in Aradippou, under Bishop of Kition Gerasimos, as part of the pastoral intervention of the Holy Metropolis of Kiti in response to the epidemiological situation in the area. During the Agiasmos service, a blessing with holy water, special prayers were read for the protection of the animals and the prevention of the disease, with the participation of the parish priest, Father Kyriakos, and the metropolitan subdeacon, Father Chrysostomos.
uses this holy water for the sprinkling of temples and houses. Fresh basil
(often termed "holy herb") is used to sprinkle holy water.
Special prayers for “the protection of the animals and the prevention of the disease” were reportedly recited, while the blessing was distributed to the faithful and attending livestock farmers.
Subsequently, the Metropolitan visited a local livestock farm, where he “blessed the facilities” and spoke with the farmers to be informed about the situation on the ground. The announcement also includes an appeal to the State to provide practical support to producers in order to limit the spread of the epidemic and safeguard the primary sector.
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