Five prosecution witnesses testify in Avakoum monastery case

Nicosia, Cyprus. Five prosecution witnesses testified before the Nicosia criminal court on Monday in the Avakoum monastery case. Their evidence focused on payments for religious icons, donations and the monastery’s financial dealings.

Witness describes payments for an icon

According to news website SigmaLive, one witness said she met one of the monks in 2020 and became interested in contributing towards an icon of Saint Ephraim after hearing about plans to develop the monastery site in Fterikoudi.

She was told the icon would cost €5,000, which she considered expensive compared with a previous payment she had made for an icon at another church.

The witness said the monk Porphyrios referred her to Nektarios, the other monk on trial, who told her: “We want to make icons that will speak to you, not Mickey Mouse.”

She said she initially paid €2,000 to Porphyrios and later €3,000 to Nektarios, without receiving receipts.

Defence presents messages and receipt

During cross-examination, Nektarios’ lawyer, Kostis Efstathiou, presented messages between the witness and his client discussing the €5,000 price and the icon’s style. The exchange also concerned an icon of Saint Porphyrios, which Nektarios allegedly described as looking like a “kindergarten painting”.

Efstathiou noted that the phrase “Mickey Mouse” did not appear in the written exchange. The witness maintained that she clearly remembered it being said.

The defence also produced a receipt dated October 4, 2021, for €3,000 towards the €5,000 payment. The witness said she had never been given the receipt.

Timing of the agreement questioned

Efstathiou argued that Nektarios could no longer have been involved in preparing the icon after the monks were removed from the monastery in March 2024.

“It wasn’t a last-minute thing for my icon to be made,” the witness replied, noting that the agreement dated back to 2021.