“Miracle” backfires: Men collecting Panagia Snakes in Kefalonia bitten by viper

They were supposed to collect snakes from the fields and bring them to the church of Virgin Mary of the Snakes – Snakes Panagia – on the eve of her Dormition Day on the  island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea.

However,  the three men accidentally picked up also a viper that bit them and sent them to hospital.

The men were seeking for snakes in the village of Arginia, near the church were the “miracle” happens every August 14th.

According to man-made “religious tradition”, little black and white snakes with the sign of a cross on their head , the Panagia Snakes, voluntarily appear in the church and “heal” people or transfer the blessing of Virgin Mary to them.

This time the “miracle” backfired and a viper threatened to spoil the whole event.

The men were immediately transferred to the General Hospital of the island where they were treated with serum, local kefaloniafocus.gr reported.

They are reportedly in good health and there is no danger for their lives.

At the very end, the event was not spoiled as local kefalonitis.gr reported and the snakes appeared again on the Eve of the Dormition.

Crowds of believers flocked to the Church and everybody was happy – except the three men in hospital.