‘Anti-Covid bishop’ to face retrial after appeals court decision

Morfou Bishop Neofytos will face re-trial on charges of violating coronavirus-related measures after the Appeals Court on Monday reversed a prior decision clearing the cleric of any wrongdoing.

Three years ago, Nicosia district court found the bishop not guilty of breaking the law regarding measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The attorney-general subsequently appealed that ruling, with the Appeals Court now finding fault with the district court’s decision.

As such, Neofytos will be re-tried at Nicosia district court by a different judge.

In the initial trial, the cleric faced charges of inciting the faithful to violate the Quarantine Law as well as the health minister’s decree on measures to combat the spread of the virus.

The district court had found in favour of Neofytos, deeming that his sermon to the faithful did not constitute incitement to break the law and commit a crime. The court had said that his speech during church services fell within the realm of his religious functions.

But having reviewed the case, the Appeals Court determined otherwise.

It said the defendant’s (meaning Neofytos) own words clearly were designed to incite disobedience to the law.

In addition, “nowhere in his remarks did he make any reference to abiding by the law or the decrees in force.”

Dubbed the ‘Anti-Covid Bishop’ by a section of the media, the cleric had been charged after refusing to pay a fine for holding a public church service on Epiphany Day on January 6, 2021.

Anyone found guilty of violating the rule of more than two people congregating was liable to up to one year in prison or a fine of up to €50,000.

The Covid decrees in force at the time generally barred gatherings of more than two people, but permitted as an exception church services with a maximum of 75, provided that the rule of ‘one person per three square metres’ was adhered to.

Prior to Epiphany Day, Neofytos had on January 2 held a service where he called on the faithful to attend the January 6 event.

“Let no one miss the Epiphany service,” Neofytos told the congregation.

“You’ve got to be stupid to believe what they say awaits us,” he added, evidently alluding to warnings about the spread of the coronavirus.

“I’d rather go to jail a thousand times, and risk being mocked by a journalist, than not perform the service.”

At the time, Neofytos himself admitted that, after the blessing of the waters ritual, at least 250 people kissed his hand.

According to government data, 1,364 people in Cyprus died of Covid-19. The fatality rate was reported as 0.19 per cent.

Covid-related measures and restrictions were eased over time, until they were lifted by June 2022.