Newsroom
Cyprus has been confronted with a case almost without precedent: a monk is being investigated for attempted murder after allegedly attacking two people with a paper cutter inside one of the island’s best-known monasteries.
The 51-year-old Romanian monk appeared before court on Saturday and was remanded in custody for six days as Paphos police investigate the violent incident at the Saint Neophytos Monastery.
He is being investigated for several alleged offenses, including attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm, wounding, carrying a knife, and illegally possessing an offensive weapon.
According to the information presented so far, the confrontation began when the monastery’s abbot, accompanied by members of the church committee and a maintenance worker, visited the monk’s cell on Friday.
They reportedly asked him to hand over the key to the cell and leave the monastery because he had failed to comply with its rules.
The request allegedly triggered an angry reaction.
Police believe the 51-year-old grabbed a paper cutter from the office area of his cell and attacked the group. His apparent target was the abbot, but a 53-year-old maintenance worker was injured on the left side of his neck and his right arm.
The injured man was taken to Paphos General Hospital, where he remained for treatment.
A 27-year-old monk who attempted to intervene was also injured. He received first aid before being discharged.
Information presented during the court proceedings indicated that the suspect had previously been involved in serious problems at the monastery. Four months before the attack, the abbot had reportedly placed him on leave from his duties.
What began as an internal dispute over monastery rules and the surrender of a cell key has now developed into a serious criminal investigation, an extraordinary turn of events in a place normally associated with prayer, quiet and spiritual retreat.
Paphos police are continuing their investigation.
