Cocaine-using monk throws acid at bishops

(Guardian) - Ten people, including seven senior Greek Orthodox bishops, have been hurt in an acid attack by a priest undergoing a disciplinary hearing in Athens, authorities have alleged.

Three of the bishops were still in hospital following the attack late on Wednesday, while two lawyers were also being treated. A police officer at the scene, who arrested the suspect, was also rushed to hospital. Three of the clerics were in serious condition according to the country’s health minister, Vasilis Kakilias, who described the incident as “unprecedented and tragic”.

Local media reported that those attacked had suffered burns, mostly on their faces and hands.

The bishops were in session to discuss possibly defrocking the priest after he was allegedly discovered to be in possession of 1.8 grams of cocaine – hidden under his cassock “in the area of his genitals” – in June 2018, the Greek daily Ta Nea reported late on Wednesday.

Appearing before a public prosecutor in the town of Veroia, he admitted that the class A drug was “for personal use”.

The newspaper identified the suspect as a hieromonk or preaching monk.

The Greek Orthodox Church was reeling from the incident with the country’s spiritual leader, Archbishop Ieronymos II, also rushing to the hospital in a display of support for the clerics.

Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the president of Greece, condemned the attack, while Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister, spoke to Ieronymos , who is also the archbishop of Athens.

Mitsotakis said he was deeply sad and assured the bishop that the state would “offer all possible medical assistance for the victims’ speedy recovery.