WESTPORT — A fiery backyard “ritual” and a Bible stabbed with a knife figure in charges filed against a 67-year-old man accused of violating a protective order issued against him after a dispute with a neighbor, police said.

Francis Conklin, of Westport, was charged Aug. 8 with criminal violation of a civil protection order and third-degree criminal mischief.

Police received a complaint July 9 that a neighbor —  identified as Conklin — had violated a civil protection order issued June 10 that barred him from “assaulting, threatening, abusing, harassing, following, interfering with or stalking” the complainant, according to the report.

The complaint was filed after the protected person returned July 9 to their apartment, which police said is located near Conklin’s residence, and found an open Bible left by the door, with a knife struck through a “specific” passage of scripture — Gospel of John, 14: 15-21, which begins, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth …”

The complainant told police that because of their history with Conklin, the act was considered a threat and harassment.

On July 15, police officers and firefighters were dispatched to Conklin’s residence where a fire reportedly had erupted.

At the scene, police said they found a charred patch of grass in the backyard, where a fire had recently been extinguished. Investigation into the incident revealed Conklin “had been performing some sort of ‘ritual’ when he set the grass on fire,” according to the report.

Warrants for Conklin’s arrest were issued in connection with both incidents, and he was taken into custody Aug. 8 when an officer spotted him waiting for a bus.

Conklin was transported to Police Department headquarters, where he was formally charged and later released after posting combined bond of $50,000 ($25,000 per charge). He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 22 at state Superior Court in Stamford.