monks

St Habakkuk: New serious allegations set to emerge

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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.

‘Investigate church donations for money laundering’

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‘Investigate church donations for money laundering’

The attorney-general’s office in Cyprus has appointed two investigators, Ninos Kekkos and George Papaioannou, to examine criminal offenses related to an ongoing scandal involving monks. MPs have urged the money laundering unit (Mokas) to investigate the church following revelations about monks paying for social media posts to increase cash flow. Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis has committed to a thorough investigation of the scandal. Allegations have emerged involving the far-right Elam party leader Christos Christou, former police chief Kypros Michaelides, Mokas, and the police. Concerns were raised about €800,000 in cash found at the Osiou Avvakoum monastery and the handling of the money. MPs have suggested that the church might be involved in money laundering, citing donations from Russian oligarchs and Malaysian businessman Jho Low. The church’s financial dealings, including those with foreign donors, are under scrutiny, with calls for a more rigorous investigation into the source of the funds. There are also allegations of police misconduct in the handling of the money transfer operation related to the scandal.

Shocking video of monk beating woman (video)

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Shocking video of monk beating woman (video)

A new video has emerged showing a woman being beaten with a belt by a monk at the Osiou Avakoum monastery. This incident follows a previous video where the woman was shouted at to leave the monastery. The police have announced they will be investigating the incident. In the video, the woman attempts to give an item to a monk, is berated, pushed to the ground, and hit with a belt so forcefully that the buckle reportedly flew off. Police are also conducting two other investigations related to the Osiou Avakoum monastery. The video of the incident was aired on Sigma TV.

Parties demand probe into ELAM’s Saint Habakkuk scandal connection

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Parties demand probe into ELAM’s Saint Habakkuk scandal connection

The president of ELAM, Christos Christou, was present at the Tamasos Bishopric during the transfer and counting of money from the safe of Saint Habakkuk, causing reactions from political parties. DISY, AKEL, DIKO, EDEK, DIPA, and the Greens are demanding explanations, with AKEL addressing the issue in the House of Representatives. Christou claims his presence was as an enthroned commissioner appointed by bishop Isaiah and criticizes AKEL’s stance towards the Church. Political parties have various reactions, with some denouncing ELAM and others calling for a thorough investigation into the events at Saint Habakkuk and the involvement of Christou. DIKO’s president, Nikolas Papadopoulos, emphasizes the need for investigation by competent authorities and raises questions about Christou’s presence and ELAM’s connections. EDEK suggests involving the Attorney General and lifting Christou’s parliamentary immunity, while DIPA emphasizes the importance of separating Church and State. The Greens suggest investigating Christou’s involvement in relation to the MPs’ code of ethics.

Bank accounts under scrutiny in Saint Habakkuk scandal

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Bank accounts under scrutiny in Saint Habakkuk scandal

Financial crime prosecutors are investigating Saint Habakkuk, examining documents and reports from the bishop’s deposition and summoning individuals for testimony. They are investigating property acquisitions by monks in Cyprus and Greece, bank account disclosures, and the origin of €807,000 in cash found at the monastery. The Tax Department is investigating the monastery’s financial obligations to the state. The Economic Crime Unit has received 15 testimonies and continues to evaluate evidence. Police Internal Affairs is investigating complaints against bishop Isaiah and others for alleged abduction and assault. Two policemen admitted to transporting valuable items from the monastery at bishop Tamasou’s request. Lawyers for two archimandrites claimed a videotape concerning myrrh found in the monastery was forged and illegally processed.

Saint Habakkuk involved in environmental scandal

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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.

Monks protest handling of Church scandal case

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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.

Monks granted permission to release evidence in monastery scandal

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Monks granted permission to release evidence in monastery scandal

Two monks involved in a scandal at the Monastery of Saint Habakkuk have been authorized by the Data Protection Commissioner to release video footage and text messages as evidence in their defense against accusations made by Bishop Issaias of Tamassos. The evidence includes CCTV footage showing masked individuals entering the monastery and SMS messages allegedly from the Bishop containing threats. This evidence is expected to be presented to the police and submitted at the Synodical Court.

Elam and former police chief linked to monastery scandal

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Elam and former police chief linked to monastery scandal

The ecclesiastical court is set to investigate scandals involving cash, sex, and a miracles’ scam at the Osios Avakoum monastery. Allegations have emerged that an ex-police chief and the president of the far-right party Elam were present at related events. Elam head Christos Christou and former police chief Kypros Michaelides were at the Tamasos bishopric on March 5, the day a safe containing €800,000 was seized. Michaelides, part of the church committee, is expected to testify for Bishop Isaias. Christou confirmed his presence, stating he was there as an observer in his capacity as throne commissioner of the bishopric, not as Elam president. Police confirmed that two of their members were present on March 5 for security reasons.

Daily News Briefing

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Daily News Briefing

In a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy Maria Holguin mentioned that “a lot of ideas” were discussed. Additionally, an ecclesiastical court is set to convene within the week concerning two monks implicated in an alleged sex and cash scandal. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos is scheduled to travel to Lebanon on Tuesday to meet with his counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib.