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.
Speaking of vigorous exorcisms:
There are demons so terrible that no mortal man of God could successfully drive them back to Hell. The only option is for the exorcist himself to invite possession and then commit suicide, dragging along the demon to damnation — so the Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints — or Hellbenders — was formed. A group of elite, highly-trained exorcists, they live in a constant state of debauchery so they will be ready to go to Hell at any moment. When an infernal Norse demon called BLACK SURTR escapes into New York City intent on cracking open the gates of Hell, the Hellbenders must use every ounce of their debauchery to battle the demon and save the planet from eternal damnation!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ8aPNkNgWs
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Chinggis say watch out for false profits, like Richard SImmons who says exorcize daily. Person ridden in video got angry, good example of rode rage.
Paul, you ask “so you do not believe in the concept of evil?”
I suspect I would have severe problems with any concept of evil that depended on the existence of imaginary creatures. I believe all humans have the capacity to do evil things. One form of evil I think is particularly appropriate in this context is convincing people that they are “possessed” by imaginary beings and that the only way to cure this is by submitting to abusive treatment.
Pogo, you ask ‘How does a ritual that did not harm the “possessed” individual “raise questions over the abusive nature of these rituals?’
I deduce that you probably have an extremely restrictive concept of “harm.” Most reasonable people would probably describe public humiliation, especially of this very physical kind, as harmful.
Tony Sidaway – do you or do you not believe that evil exists? Yes or no. No qualifiers.
I avoid Jesuits with extreme care. They may be quite sane, stable, and right in the head but they sure do have a very incredibly rich history of intimidating and hurting people in the past.
This is not an “exorcism”. I find this to be a farce as an exorcism requires expelling a demon out of the body of a man. Riding the man as a donkey, showing him in front of people, is a circus. And no wonder why the Eastern Orthodox looks to their clerics for the practices.
The cleric should be charged with negligence, abuse, and intimidation and shipped straight to the slammer. There is a clear cut reason why I don’t ever trust clerics, preachers, priests: they all have something to hide and are not quite truthful as they becometh.
Examples? Ted Haggard, the preacher who raged so hard against homosexuality that he in fact had sex with men. The Catholic priests who molest boys in the name of God; the Catholic nuns who rape girls and boys in Ireland in the name of God as well. Harold Camping, a false prophet, claiming to know about the apocalypse then running off with millions of dollars then dying unexpectedly somewhere. Charismatics, who appear on TV, claiming to know Russian and speaking Russian; when they were discovered not speaking Russian by those who actually do know it, they cast those members out to keep the secret from overflowing outside their doors. Joel Osteen, preaching the “Gospel of Money”, always having his loving wife in his ear, preaching what she says. Rumor has it she’s abusive, beats the hell out of him, and forces him to do this bidding.
Guess what? I have no trust in this cleric. I don’t have trust in Jesuits. I don’t have trust in any of those blowhards who think they’re actually representing God when they’re undermining the very foundation of theology itself: all are sinners, none shall be lords.
Paul Silas was a great player and a quality person.
Paul, I was a student there during the Willis Reed era.
Basketball was singularly awful at the time.
I used to do a weekly comic strip for the Creightonian.
It was singularly awful as well.
Pogo – Paul Silas and I used to play bridge together, both as partners and opponents. He couldn’t bid worth a damn, but he sure could play the hand. 🙂 Silas was beautiful to watch play both in college and as a pro. Very bright. Phi Beta Kappa.
Hey, gas is the expensive in Moldova. Riding the back of a possessed guy is the preferred mode of transportation. What’s wrong with you people? No cultural sensitivity! Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought that this is how a couple in Moldova announces an engagement. . .or is it a divorce? Those wild and crazy Eastern Europeans!
If Bruce Jenner can decide he is a woman than this poor sap can decide he is a donkey.
As a famous ultra-liberal Marxist once said “Who are we to judge.”
How does a ritual that did not harm the “possessed” individual “raise questions over the abusive nature of these rituals?
Does having a fun date with your boyfriend raise questions over the abusive nature of dating rituals?
Paul, a fellow Creightonian!!
I shoulda knowed.
Pogo – I stayed in Degleman (sp?) Hall. Paul Silas was the first student I met there. 🙂
Paul
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts/minds? of men? The Shadow do. LR
Tony
Demons, hobgoblins, and fairies are imaginary. You’re right there. But, Orcs do exist. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Of course the exorcism didn’t work. Demons, hobgoblins, fairies and orcs are imaginary. They’re make believe.
Tony Sidaway – so you do not believe in the concept of evil?
When I was at Creighton University, my dorm was run by a Jesuit exorcist. He was very stable and a really nice guy. Although all Catholic priests have the power to exorcise, it is really specialized. Only a few do it.
In this case, the important thing is, did the exorcism work?
http://jonathanturley.org/2015/04/15/police-seeks-parents-and-pastors-after-church-starves-2-year-old-to-death-in-exorcism-ritual/
Remember this exorcism? Not Catholic or Eastern Orthodox. Fundamentalists.
If the victim had a guide dog at his side none of this would have happened. As for the Priest. When his time comes at the Pearly Gates the presiding Saint will have the video there for the applicant to see and when the Priest gets sent to Hell in a handbasket some aide will throw in a couple of turds to accompany him to Hell. And if you dont believe in Heaven and Hell or the Pearly Gates just ignore this comment.
Abusive treatment of a mentally ill person doesn’t get much worse than those abuses sanctioned by a bishop:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anneliese_Michel
Exorcism, and the belief in demonic possession that supports it, are still mainstream elements of Roman Catholicism, so Catholics who write this abusive conduct off as due to the Eastern church are simply incorrect. Both main branches of Catholicism, and many smaller denominations, have rites that involve physical and psychological abuse of their unfortunate and deluded victims.
Nick
Nuts is nuts, East West North & South. We have our snake handlers and Catholic voodoo pedophiles. Extremism is extremism is extremism.
Now I would like to hear an ‘explanation’ from Davidm. This calls for some humor.
What do you expect from the Eastern Orthodox.