Holy scandal: monks to appear before church court

The ecclesiastical court will convene within the week over the two monks involved in an alleged sex and cash scandal, it emerged on Monday.

Set to take place behind closed doors, it will be headed by Kiti Bishop Nektarios. Reports said the bishops were keen to have proceedings wrapped ideally before Easter so as not to “scandalise” the public.

Tamasos Bishop Isaias who launched the investigation on two monks at the Ayios Avakoum monastery in Fterikoudes has stepped away from the proceedings to avoid conflict of interest.

Morphou Bishop Neophytos has also withdrawn from the proceedings as he was on good terms with the monks.

The ecclesiastical court will be comprised of six Holy Synod members.

Police deny involvement

Sources close to the matter said the monks were found with €800,000 in cash, and property in Greece and Limassol. They were also allegedly caught on CCTV footage having sex with each other.

Meanwhile, police denied being part of an undercover operation to clampdown on two monks involved in an alleged sex and cash scandal.

Spokesman for the force Christos Andreou, was rebutting allegations put forth by the monks’ lawyers, that 30 people, including 10 hooded individuals violently kidnapped the monks from the monastery.

Lawyers Adrianna Klaedes and Nikolaos Koulouris claimed that plain clothed police officers were part of the operation acting on the orders from Tamasos Bishop Isaias.

According to Andreou, there were two police officers present who were asked to be there for security reasons. This took place on March 5 and police officers found a number of bishopric employees taking evidence.

“We were not involved in the investigation.”

Andreou told CNA that police is currently investigating two separate cases on the matter.

One involves alleged financial crimes following a report by Tamasos Bishop Isias. The other concerns reports from other monks at the monastery including assault, threats of violence and other offences. Police are taking statements for both investigations.

President Nikos Christodoulides was also asked about the case after his meeting with the UN Secretary-general’s personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin, but remained coy on the matter.

He said, “the state is not involved in such matters. There is an ongoing investigative and judicial process. Let’s wait for that process to be completed and we will be here. If we need to make statements, we will make them.”