A 49-year-old priest from an Orthodox Church on the Greek island of Rhodes was arrested after a tourist accused him of inappropriate behaviour involving holy oil.
According to local outlet Dimokrati News, a 30-year-old Estonian visitor filed a complaint alleging that the priest anointed his genitals during a visit to a monastery.
The arrest was reported by Dimokrati News on Friday, revealing the disturbing details of the incident.
The Estonian tourist claimed that after returning to the monastery with his girlfriend to retrieve a forgotten crucifix, the priest approached him, stating he had a “special gift” in another room.
Trusting the clergyman, the tourist followed him.
Once inside the room, the tourist, initially unaware of the priest’s intentions, complied when he was asked to undress for the anointing ritual with holy oil.
The tourist did not protest as the priest proceeded to massage the oil onto his body, assuming it was a customary procedure.
However, after reflecting on the encounter, the tourist decided to report the incident to the local police station on the island later that day.
No immediate response was received from the Hellenic Police or representatives from the Rhodes District Court regarding the case, as requested by international press.
The priest allegedly defended his actions to law enforcement, claiming that he anointed the tourist’s genitals because he believed the individual had a rash.
As the investigation progresses, the prosecutor’s office of the Rhodes District Court will review the case and conduct further inquiries into the matter.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the appropriate conduct of religious figures and the importance of ensuring the safety and respect of visitors to sacred sites.
