Priests spray holy water from plane to stop 'alcohol use and fornication'

Russian clergymen choose 11 September as the country's unofficial ‘Sobriety Day’

Russian Orthodox priests have thrown gallons of holy water over a city in a bid to save its citizens from substance abuse and sex.

The clergymen boarded a small plane before attempting to cure people in the central Russian city of Tver who were suffering from alcoholism and drug dependency.

Once the aircraft reached an altitude of 800 feet, the clergymen began their blessings with 70 litres of holy water.

A prayer service was held before the door was opened and it was poured on to people below from a large chalice.

Also onboard were a married couple who claimed that the husband was miraculously healed from his alcohol dependency on the day.

One of the priests on board, Father Alexander, said the ritual would prevent the use of “alcohol and drugs”, and “stop fornication”.

He said: “Any disease is from a virus, and a virus is a demon. Therefore, any disease is primarily a spiritual disease.”

Russia is well known for its national love of vodka, but according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), new anti-alcoholism campaigns are helping to cut consumption.

The average person in Russia reduced their alcohol intake from 15.8 litres per year in 2005 to 11.7 litres in 2016, according to the latest figures available from the organisation.

The holy water stunt follows claims in July from a Catholic bishop, who planned to spray a Colombian city from a military helicopter in a mass exorcism of demons.