Young 'possessed' nun crucified at cross

A Romanian Orthodox priest, facing charges for ordering the crucifixion of a young nun because she was "possessed by the devil", was unrepentant as he celebrated at her funeral ceremony.

"God has performed a miracle for her, finally Irina is delivered from evil," Father Daniel, 29, the superior of the Holy Trinity monastery in northeast Romania, said before celebrating a short liturgy.

He insisted that from the religious point of view, the crucifixion of Maricica Irina Cornici, 23, was "entirely justified", but he was seeking a "good lawyer".

Cornici was found dead on Thursday, gagged and chained to a cross, after fellow nuns called an ambulance, according to police.