Outrage after bishop filmed violently dunking baby in baptism water

A bishop at a Greek Orthodox church has come under fire over video showing him forcefully plunging a wailing infant into a basin of water.

The video, captioned "IS THIS YOUR PRIEST!!!?????" and posted to Twitter by user @Miss_Patriciah last week, shows the bishop vigorously dunking the child three times into the water before handing it back to its parents.

The force of the man's movements sends water spraying in all directions. Five girls standing in the background watching the ceremony can be seen recoiling and stepping backwards.

The video has since been viewed more than 14 million times and was filmed in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, The Sun reports.

Twitter users have condemned the bishop's rough treatment of the child.

"That's child abuse," one wrote.

"This kid is going to be traumatised," another wrote.

"Disgusting behaviour. Not funny! If he did that to my child I’d knock him out," a third said.

Others on the other hand have defended the time-honoured tradition of baptism, claiming the bishop's actions were not likely to harm the child.