Our View: The monastery fiasco exposed Church failings
The Osiou Avakoum monastery and two monks are on trial before a Synod Court for various allegations including sexual relations between the celibate monks, staging miracles to generate donations, accumulating a large amount of cash, forced confessions, and involvement of a bishop in trying to cover up the scandal. The scandal also involves links to Elam leader Christos Christou. Over four years, the abbot Nektarios and archimandrite Porfyrios built a church and monastery with funds collected from the faithful, exploiting the marketing of fake miracles. The Bishop of Tamasos, Isaias, under whose authority the monastery falls, is implicated for not taking action despite the apparent signs of misconduct. The Church hierarchy has been criticized for allowing these activities to occur. The case has gained public attention, leading to a trial and a police investigation for potential criminal offences related to taking money under false pretenses. Archbishop Georgios has urged the police to fully investigate the case.