World

Over 200 People Poisoned From Holy Water In Irkutsk, Siberia

by amyellensoden | January 25, 2010 at 01:53 pm

330 views | 6 Recommendations | 1 comment

Over 200 Russian Orthodox believers are being treated for poisoning after drinking holy water in the east Siberian city of Irkutsk. The poisoned holy water reportedly came from wells around the Archangel Michael Church that was collected for Epiphany. Over 200 people are now sick with intestinal infections and high fevers, all of whom drank water that came from two wells around the church.

Epiphany is a religious ceremony celebrating the birth of Christ that takes place at the end of the month on January 19 in the Russian Orthodox Church. Water is considered to be holy during the celebration of Epiphany and is often stored for long periods of time.

The believers were celebrating Epiphany (Greek for "appearance", or "revelation"), which is traditionally commemorated by Orthodox Russians on January 19.

Spokesman Vladimir Salovarov said a total of 204 people required some medical treatment. However it is too early to say exactly what caused the illness.

Symptoms of a high fever and acute intestinal infection and pain are being reported in connection to what is being considered a mass poisoning. Around 204 people have become sick from drinking the holy water, and around 50 people have now been hospitalized for treatment in relation to the poisoned water.