Earlier I Had Mentioned That....

Earlie I had mentioned that maybe the Vatican had better things to worry about that the ten commandments of driving that the drafted. Maybe this is one of those things?

Nuns and priests attack each other in convent
By Nassos Stylianou

Scuffles lead to two arrests

TWO PEOPLE were injured and another two were arrested after scuffles broke out between two rival factions of nuns residing in an Old Calendarist convent in Avdellero late last night.

Nuns and priests from both sides confronted each other after unrest broke out at around 10pm.

The church was covered with blood as nuns and priests from both sides attacked each other using sharp objects.

Police confirmed that they would be looking into the incident, which is believed to be part of a long-running dispute between the two groups of nuns.

It has been reported that the convent is segregated, with Archimandrite Sevastianos’ followers occupying certain buildings and the resident nuns staying in others. At nightfall, Sevastianos and his nuns barricade themselves inside the chapel, as a precaution, with friends and relatives of the two groups taking turns at patrolling the premises.

According to reports, Archimandrite Sevastianos yesterday had attempted to bring in a group of bishops from Greece in order to take control of the convent, while it is also suggested that supporters of the two groups from all over the island were involved in last night’s confrontation.

Police have been discreetly monitoring the situation since an altercation back in December that resulted in a minor injury to one of the nuns. At the time, a group of nine nuns living in a nearby retreat under Archimandrite Sevastianos stormed the premises after breaking the gate locks with iron cutters. Scuffles broke out, and the trespassers locked themselves in the chapel, allegedly after being attacked by the resident nuns.

Archimandrite Sevastianos and his supporters say the management of the convent’s finances rightfully belongs to them, according to a will made by the deceased Old Calendarist Bishop of Kiti, Epiphanios, who died nearly two years ago.

The resident nuns, led by Mother Superior Markella, have been living in the main body of the convent for decades and refuse to give up their financial rights.

Sevastianos was placed temporarily in charge until the Old Calendarist Synod in Greece elect a new bishop while former Attorney-general Alecos Markides, who represents the resident nuns, said after the incident in December that he would be seeking a restraining order that would force Sevastianos’ faction off the premises.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007