Exorcisms, a behind closed doors supernatural cleansing exercise, have been going on for centuries and are once again in the horror scene spotlight after the release of The Pope's Exorcist.
Gladiator superstar Russell Crowe plays the part of Father Gabriele Amorth, who allegedly ‘saw patients levitate, spit nails and gain super strength’.
An exorcism involves calling demons or evil spirits inhabiting the minds of the living, The Daily Star reported.
READ MORE: Galway community prepares for funeral of Kirsty Bohan, 14, killed in horror Easter Monday crash
While the new movie has been criticised by the catholic church, here are some of the most famous exorcisms that have allegedly taken place, according to those who conducted them.
Reverent Bill Bean this year celebrates a decade of casting demons away.
He penned several books on the process and he spoke exclusively to Daily Star about his most disturbing encounters.
He said: “In a case in San Diego, this woman’s eyes changed to a yellowish, greenish type of colour and had these reptilian-looking slits for her pupils.
“I will never ever forget that."
He revealed that her body was allegedly moving around like a serpent, contorting in different ways.
“I’m happy to tell you that God worked through me to deliver her but I will never ever forget that.”
Next is Gabriele Amorth, who Russel Crowe plays, perhaps one of the best known exorcists.
He was the Chief Exorcist in the Vatican and until his death at 91 seven years ago, he always remembered one exorcism.
Priest and author Marcello Stanzione said in his book: “His curses and threats were aimed solely at the exorcist; then he began spitting at him and preparing to attack him physically.
“Screaming and howling, the demon burst forth and looked straight at him, drooling saliva from the young man’s mouth.”
Apparently the spirit, inhabiting a thin man, then said “I am Lucifer” after being asked his name by the catholic priest
Stanzione added: “The young man’s body stiffened so much that he became hard and began to levitate. For several minutes, he remained hovering three feet in the air.”
Amorth was successful in the exorcism however, he noted that the encounter was truly “terrifying”.
Bishop Plato Angelakis claimed his first exorcism saw a demon toss a woman and four men across a room.
The 60-year-old victim had starved herself for a week before Bishop Angelakis showed up.
He said: “For the most part she showed extraordinary strength, three or four of us, throwing us around the room – there were about four adults.
“The whites of her eyes were all back, you try doing that, that’s something you can’t naturally do.
“Some language coming out, strength is probably the number one thing for her. She had extraordinary strength.”
After two days the woman was freed of the spirit living inside her.
Buddhist priest Paul Andrew Devlin also recalled a terrifying first exorcism involving a victim with “pointed teeth, black hair and barbed wire hair”.
He stated: “Her jawline was square, the teeth were pointed – that’s right the teeth were pointed – and her eyes were glazed over and black.
“It was quite a scary thing to watch. The atmosphere in this room was heavy and the power of the demon was very apparent.”
She sat by a fire crossed legged while eating a bowl of ice-cream after she was freed of her demon.
In another terrifying exorcism, Catholic Ron Feyl- Enright allegedly saw a man float up to the ceiling, staying there for a number of hours.
“They would actually be hovering just overhead and it’s a series of prayers and focusing in on what is actually taking place, focusing in would be where the priest would be largely responsible along with his assistant and any investigators that were in the room.
“Because everyone is praying. And so, the individual would slowly, slowly come down, we had one individual that was up there for six hours and no-one knew, really, what to do."
READ NEXT:
Biden in Ireland: Everything you need to know about US president's visit
Tears flow as sister of teenager killed after being hit by bus in Longford speaks at funeral
Grand National 2023: Irish-trained winner odds-on in betting as more domination expected
Vogue Williams reveals the reason why she's never asked to star on Strictly Come Dancing
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
