Global General

117 Russians in hospital after drinking holy water

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-01-25 23:16
Large Medium Small

117 Russians in hospital after drinking holy water
Christian Orthodox believers fill up bottles with water from an icy pond to mark the upcoming Epiphany in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, January 19, 2010. [Agencies]

MOSCOW: More than 100 Russian Orthodox believers have been hospitalized after drinking holy water during Epiphany celebrations in the eastern city of Irkutsk, an official said Monday.

A total of 117 people, including 48 children, were in the hospital complaining of acute intestinal pain after drinking water from wells in and around a local church last week, said Vladimir Salovarov, a spokesman for the Irkutsk Investigative Committee.

Related readings:
117 Russians in hospital after drinking holy water Orthodox Epiphany celebrations
117 Russians in hospital after drinking holy water Orthodox Christmas mass
117 Russians in hospital after drinking holy water Russian Orthodox church stolen, brick by brick
117 Russians in hospital after drinking holy water Putin, Medvedev attend Orthodox Easter service

Salovarov said 204 people required some medical treatment after consuming the water, the source of which was a stagnant lake. He said, however, that it was too early to say what caused the illness.

Many Russians consider any water obtained on Epiphany -- which they celebrate on Jan. 19 -- to be holy.

The water is typically bottled for consumption later. Tap water in most of Russia is undrinkable.