A major uproar has been caused by the entry of priests from the Church of Genuine Orthodox Christians — known as Old Calendarists — into a livestock farm in Troullous, despite the strict prohibitory measures in effect due to the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou immediately instructed the Veterinary Services to investigate how Metropolitan Gerasimos of Kition of the Old Calendarists and his entourage gained access to the farm. A similar directive was issued by the Larnaca police chief.
The head of Veterinary Services for FMD, Sotiria Georgiadou, clarified that entry into the restricted zone is permitted only for those who work there, and always in compliance with all protocols.
Under the Minister’s scrutiny are both the circumvention of biosecurity checks and the possible liability of farm owners who allowed entry. Of particular concern is the risk of virus transmission through the vestments and ecclesiastical items used during the blessing ceremony.
Government circles described the act as “irresponsible and dangerous,” stressing that it undermines scientific protocols and puts exports and domestic livestock production at risk.
Additional concern has been raised by the Old Calendarists’ call for mass prayer gatherings, as the congregation of farmers from different areas in an enclosed space is considered a sanitary trap.
For their part, the Old Calendarists deny the reports. In their statement, they note that the blessing was performed in the church — not at the farm — that only one farm was visited, and that all sanitary protocols, including double disinfection upon entry and exit, were strictly observed.
