Old calendarist priests entered a farm in the Larnaca district on Wednesday night to bless its goats, with the area having been hit by an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in recent days.
The old calendarist Kition bishopric stated that its Kition bishop Yerasimos, hierodeacon Chrystosomos, and priest Kyriacos, initially and read “prayers … for the protection of animals and the prevention of the disease”.
Following the reading of the prayers, the priests also offered their blessing to the farmers who were present for the reading.
Yerasimos and Chrysostomos then visited a farm in the area, with the bishopric stating that Yerasimos had “blessed the facilities” and been informed about the situation.
“He prayed that the all-good God, through the intercessions of Saint Spyridon, Saint Tryphon, Saint Modestos, and Saint Mamas, would protect the animals, strengthen the workers in the livestock sector, grant health, strength, and patience, and prevent any further tribulations in our country,” it said.
On Thursday, the agriculture ministry said that minister Maria Panayiotou had asked the police to investigate the incident.
Later, veterinary services department spokeswoman Sotiria Georgiadou stressed that “entry into a contaminated area is only permitted to those who have a job and comply with all protocols”.
“We do not want to cut off people’s jobs, transportation, or livelihoods, but please, only those who have business there should enter,” she said.
She was then asked whether the priests had complied with the mandated biosecurity measures and entered legally, and said they had not, before once again stressing that members of the public should not enter contained areas without a valid reason.
“The way things are going, we are in a standstill situation, which means that not a single mosquito is moving,” she said.
The old calendarist church, meanwhile, insisted that the priests had “strictly observed … all the prescribed health and veterinary protocols” during their visit to the farm.
“All required checks and double disinfection were carried out upon entry and exit, while upon arrival at and departure from the unit, the prescribed disinfection procedures were followed again,” it said.
It added that it “stands by the suffering person in the difficulties of life”, and that as such, it is “not acceptable” for it to be “targeted for its pastoral presence”.
