Further video of accused monks leaks online (updated)

The two monks at the centre of the scandals at Avakoum monastery are expected to appear in front of the Holy Synod’s investigative committee in the next couple of days, it emerged on Tuesday as a new video was leaked to the media.

According to Holy Synod spokesman Victor Stelios, the two suspended monks may even make their deposition from the monastery itself.

Once the committee completes its investigation it will present its conclusions to the six-member ecclesiastical court, which will make the final decision about the monks.

Based on the course of the investigation, other witnesses may emerge who will be called to testify before the investigative committee.

There is no specific timeframe, but the goal remains to complete the process as soon as possible and if possible before Easter, Stelios said.

Police investigations into possible criminal offences being carried out in tandem are ongoing.

The new video of the monks embroiled in the scandal making the rounds of various media sites on Tuesday shows the two monks engaged in conversation within the monastery.

It showed up online two days after Archbishop Georgios appealed for an end to the leaks and one day after data protection commissioner Irene Loizidou Nicolaidou said that there was clear illegality involved in the public release of CCTV footage.

In the brief video, date stamped January 4, the two monks sound concerned about a situation and about being caught with one monk heard saying to the other, “What shall we do? I get depressed by this,” to which the other replies, “I also get depressed.”

Theologian Theodoros Kyriakou speaking on Alpha TV, said the repeated leaking of videos is turning the whole affair into a “serial” and prolonging the process of sorting out the mess, as well as affecting the credibility of the Holy Synod.

“It is the job of the [church] to judge and separate worthy from unworthy clerics, and they know very well who is and isn’t worthy,” Kyriakou said.

The church should have already been done with their part of the proceedings, he added, leaving only the police investigations to run their course.

Moreover, it is clear that the leakage of videos not only targets the two monks but also casts doubt on the Bishop of Tamasos for his alleged prolonged inaction in matters unravelling at the holy site, and this was intentional, Kyriakou claimed.

Nicolaidou said on Sunday that circulation of audio was clearly expressly prohibited, while it remains to be determined whether the placement of cameras was in and of itself illegal, depending on their location.

She has asked the police to clarify where the cameras were placed and if the purpose for which they were installed violates the rights of third parties without their knowledge.