A 53-year-old monastery technician and a 27-year-old monk were hospitalized following the incident in Cyprus on Friday, Aug. 7
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/neophytos-monastery-080926-44fbd5560b2e411990b0f04dc2d8fa73.jpg "Saint Neophytos Monastery in Cyprus.")
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 51-year-old monk has been accused of stabbing two men at Agios Neophytos Monastery in Paphos, Cyprus, on Friday, Aug. 7
- The alleged attack occurred after the monk refused to leave the monastery when asked by priests
- Investigators believe the monk intended to target Abbot Leontios, who had suspended him from clerical duties
A monk is under investigation for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing two men at a monastery in Cyprus.
The incident occurred at Agios Neophytos Monastery in Paphos on Friday, Aug. 7, the Cyprus newspaper Philenews and the U.K.’s Metro reported.
A 51-year-old Romanian monk staying at the monastery refused to leave when asked by a group of priests and subsequently attacked two members with a box cutter he grabbed from the desk in his room, according to the outlets.
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A 53-year-old monastery technician suffered injuries to his throat and hand. A second monk aged 27 who intervened was injured in the hand, per Philenews. The pair was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
Investigators believe the monk intended to attack Abbot Leontios, who ordered his removal from the monastery, per Metro.
According to Philenews, the monk occupied two cells at the monastery for several years, one of which was previously occupied by his late father. His relationship with the monastery reportedly deteriorated in recent years as he refused to follow the abbot’s instructions and the monastery’s schedule.
The abbot eventually suspended the monk from his clerical duties a few months ago and the pair’s relationship worsened, per the outlet.
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The monk was arrested and placed under investigation for attempted murder, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, wounding, carrying a knife, and illegal possession and carrying of an offensive weapon following the stabbing incident, per Metro and Philenews.
A court has ordered a six-day detention of the monk following the attack as he remains in custody, according to the outlets.
The Paphos Criminal Investigation Department (PCID) is reportedly investigating the incident.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Agios Neophytos Monastery and PCID for comment.
