Church Pledges To Investigate Exorcism Where Priest Rode Man and Stood On Him In Celebration

We have followed various cases of exorcisms that result in injury or death over the years. A video has gone viral of one such ritual that did not harm the “possessed” individual but again raises questions over the abusive nature of these rituals. “Father Valeriy” of Church of St Michael in the self-proclaimed state of Transnistria, in Eastern Europe is shown riding the man like a donkey as he protests. After the man collapses, the priest stands on top of him and raises his arms in victory. The Moldovan Orthodox Church has launched a probe. Assuming that this is not just some horrible joke, the video shows the potential for great abuse in such rituals.

When the cameraman asked how far the man must carry the large priest, Valeriy responds “To Jerusalem and to the sacred mountain of Aphone.” The man then pleaded that he cannot go on and asks to carry the priest in his arms instead: “Good people please save me! I cannot take it anymore!

News accounts say that Valeriy insists that they will continue to Jerusalem unless the devil shows itself. What is most disturbing is the appearance of a young child who is allowed to witness this scene as Father Valeriy grabs the man’s ear and then later stands on the collapsed man in victory.

If this video is real, it is shocking to see the level of control that this cleric has over other adults who only only film and laugh at the scene but allow their children to watch as if this were a traveling circus.