A marathon session of the Holy Synod court was held on Monday, as a trial got underway for monks involved in the Osiou Avakoum monastery scandal.

The monks chose to represent themselves, after a third lawyer that was meant to represent them at the ecclesiastical court, quit ahead of the hearing, saying the trial being conducted was unfair.

Archimandrites Nektarios and Porfyrios, and monk Avakoum, brought a suitcase full of box files with testimony and evidence to defend themselves. Porfyrios took on the challenge of cross-examining the witnesses brought forward by the church in the money and sex trial.

First to testify against the monks was their main accuser Tamassos Bishop Isaias, who was cross-examined by Porfyrios for several hours.

The bishop was reported to have exceeded the 30-minute time-limit for giving testimony.

According to reports, the bishop, received a barrage of questions from Porfyrios, after he himself referred to the facts of the scandal under investigation. He spoke about the evidence that came into his hands, regarding the moral misconduct under investigation.

Among the evidence presented to the court was audiovisual material, part of which was leaked to third parties and the media.

In addition, according to the same reports, the monks provided evidence before the court, which primarily concerns conversations with Isaias in connection with the money that was delivered to him, under the codename, ‘medicine’.

The monks also claim that they have in their hands evidence that contradicts what is attributed to them. According to the reports coming out of the court, the box files contain conversations between the brotherhood of monks with Isaias.

Other witnesses also testified, including bar association head Michalis Vorkas, and other clerics.

The three monks face charges including ‘unethical acts’ after videos emerged depicting sexual acts unfolding at the Osiou Avakoum monastery, as well as financial impropriety.

Another report in Philenews, referred to the civil case against the monks later in the day, saying a second stash of cash was found in another safe during their investigations.

The exact amount was not revealed, but it was said to contain a significant amount of money.

The first safe was found under a laundry machine in the monastery with €807,000 in it, sparking the scandal.

The monks are set to appear in civil court on September 27.