Tamassos Bishop Isaias will be the first to testify against monks Archimandrites Nektarios and Porphyrios in a church trial set to begin on August 30 for alleged crimes at the infamous Osiou Avakoum monastery, according to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

The trial at the holy synod court will examine allegations of sexual intercourse between the two men and money laundering claims.

Both monks have also accused Isaias of mishandlings in the case, which are not being examined. The allegations against the bishop include that he sent a team of 30 police officers, some masked, to apprehend them at the monastery and that he was also taking money from the monastery as payment for his campaign to become archbishop last year.

However, the church proceedings on August 30 will focus on the monks and footage showing them engaging in sexual intercourse and hiding some €800,000 in cash in a money box.

Another 15 people have also said they would testify in front of the church court, while there are 60 witnesses on the list of the church’s investigative committee.

It has also been reported that in addition to Archimandrites Nektarios and Porphyrios, a monk by the name Avakoum is also accused.

He is facing the same charges but the same penalty. Nektarios and Porphyrios face defrocking and excommunication, but Avakoum faces solely defrocking.

A church source told CNA it is “certain” that Nektarios and Porphyrios will be defrocked.