Holy Synod

Police deny delays over monk scandal

by
Police deny delays over monk scandal

The police have been criticized for their handling of a scandal involving monks, with accusations of special treatment due to the church’s influence being denied by the police. Videos have surfaced showing a monk assaulting a woman and staging a fake miracle, but lawyers claim these videos are doctored and have criticized the police’s approach, suggesting evidence may have been tampered with. The police spokesman, Christos Andreou, stated that there is insufficient evidence for arrests and mentioned the possibility of issuing European arrest warrants to prevent implicated parties from fleeing the country. He confirmed that no police action would be taken until after a Holy Synod meeting, as agreed upon by the attorney general, police chief, and archbishop. Andreou also revealed that police leadership was unaware of officers in civilian clothes being present at the Osiou Avakoum monastery during an incident involving hooded individuals. This operation, ordered by Tamassos Bishop Isaias for transferring valuable items, unexpectedly included €800,000 in cash, which the police did not intervene to secure, leading to criticism from MPs. The presence of plainclothes officers and the far-right party leader, Christos Christou, at the scene has sparked further controversy. The involvement of the secret service has been rumored but not confirmed. The police have investigated the monastery multiple times but not the bishopric, and it is unclear when the money was taken into police custody for investigation.

Archbishop expresses regret over monastery scandal

by
Archbishop expresses regret over monastery scandal

Cyprus’ Archbishop Georgios expressed regret over the scandal at the Osiou Avakoum monastery involving allegations of fraud, misconduct, and immorality among clergy members. He announced a thorough investigation into the scandals and urged police and authorities to fully investigate. The Holy Synod has tasked its judicial bodies with investigating the case. Additionally, the monastery is under scrutiny for being built on land protected under the Natura 2000 environmental policy, leading to legal action against the monastery, the church committee, and Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou for unauthorised constructions. Two investigators have been appointed to examine any criminal offences related to the case, and there are calls for the money laundering unit to investigate the church. Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis committed to fully investigating the scandal.

St Habakkuk: New serious allegations set to emerge

by
St Habakkuk: New serious allegations set to emerge

– A scandal involving the Saint Habakkuk Monastery has been revealed, with potential for more serious allegations to surface.
– There are complaints under review, including one for forgery and others for conspiracy.
– An intense media battle is ongoing between defrocked and accused monks and the Bishop of Tamassos and Orini, Isaias.
– The conflict may have arisen from the Bishop’s detection of irregular activity within the monastery or from the Metropolitan’s requests for large sums of money from the monastery, which were denied.
– The monks’ legal team is attempting to present their clients as the aggrieved party and has requested the immediate suspension of Isaias from the Holy Synod.
– A news report claimed Father Nectarios assured the Bishop of no financial impropriety, which the lawyers denied.
– Accusations of financial demands by the Bishop are supported by evidence including testimonies of monks and SMS messages.
– A monk was involved in a physical altercation with a woman, which was captured on video. The woman later defended the monk and claimed their relationship remained unaffected.
– Another allegation involves a monk applying myrrh to a cross, which the Bishop complained resembled a miracle. This was countered with a testimony claiming the cross was cleaned with antiseptic liquid and ethyl alcohol.

Lawyers dispute validity of video in Saint Habakkuk scandal

by
Lawyers dispute validity of video in Saint Habakkuk scandal

The lawyers of two archimandrites issued a statement regarding leaked video footage related to the placement of myrrh in the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk. They stated that the video does not show any scheming of fraud, with one instructing the other to place myrrh and clarified that Monk Nektarios never claimed the myrrh was miraculous. They also mentioned that the video is allegedly manipulated to harm the priests. The lawyers welcomed the Synodal Court’s announcement, seeing it as a step towards proper investigation before the Ecclesiastical Court convenes, as they had requested in a letter to the Holy Synod.

Saint Habakkuk involved in environmental scandal

by
Saint Habakkuk involved in environmental scandal

– The hermitage of Saint Habakkuk was illegally erected and converted into the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk by the Holy Synod on March 21, 2022.
– Efforts have been made for two years to legalize the monastery’s facilities through registration and road construction.
– Government departments have refused the retroactive legalization due to the monastery being built in a Natura 2000 Network area without environmental studies.
– Legal actions were initiated against the Monastery, the church committee, and Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou for unauthorized constructions.
– The first inspection occurred in September 2022, and by March 2023, illegal buildings and lack of final approvals for various constructions were identified.
– On March 17, 2023, the Monastery was notified of the decision to take legal action, leading to a court case with 18 charges filed in July 2023, with a trial scheduled for March 26, 2024.
– Pressure was exerted to register a road leading to the monastery to grant legal access and obtain a license.
– The road falls within agricultural zone G3, protection zone Z1, the Special Protection Zone of the Natura 2000 Network named Madari – Papoutsa, and the Community Importance Area named Fountoukodasi Pitsilias, and is a known migratory bird corridor.
– The Department of Environment emphasized the negative impacts of road widening on the Natura 2000 Network areas.
– A meeting on March 21, 2023, discussed the road’s registration and construction, requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment study for approval.
– The Game and Fauna Service opposed the registration of roads through Nature Protection areas to prevent encouraging residential development in these areas.
– The Department of Environment had no objection to issuing a license for the legalization of the illegally erected cells and auxiliary spaces at the hermitage as of a month after the March 21, 2023 request for opinions.

Holy Synod decides monastery procedure

by
Holy Synod decides monastery procedure

The six-member Holy Synod, led by Bishop of Kitium Nectarios, is expected to decide on the procedural course for the case of the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk. The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, included Bishops Konstantias Vasilios, Limassol Athanasios, Karpasia Christophoros (replacing the bishop of Tamassos and Oreini), Amathus Nikolaos, and Arsinois Pancratius (replacing the bishop of Morphou). The decision-making process will not involve any external statements.

Monks protest handling of Church scandal case

by
Monks protest handling of Church scandal case

Two monks from the Monastery of Saint Habakkuk in Fterikoudi are contesting the Holy Synod’s management of their case, planning to send a letter outlining their objections to the investigation and trial procedures. Their lawyers argue that the six-member Synodal Court was irregularly appointed, violating the Church’s statutes which require a five-member court with an initial investigator. The monks claim they have not received a formal indictment, evidence, or sufficient preparation time, and were summoned unexpectedly via text message. They face charges of financial misconduct and inappropriate sexual behavior but deny the sexual misconduct allegations. They intend to present evidence against Bishop Isaias of Tamassos and Orini at their court hearing. The court is led by Bishop Nectarios of Kition.