Three witnesses testify in Avakoum monastery fraud trial

Nicosia, Cyprus. Three prosecution witnesses testified on Monday in the Avakoum monastery fraud trial. Two said the monastery owed them money, while a third said he had donated €6,000 without receiving a receipt.

Charges and allegations

Monks Nektarios and Porfyrios face charges including conspiracy to defraud, forgery and use of false documents, theft by proxy, handling stolen goods, money laundering, interfering with judicial proceedings and submitting fraudulent tax returns.

The case came to light after authorities discovered €800,000 in cash and uncovered alleged fake miracles and CCTV footage of prohibited sexual acts.

Witness testimony

Beekeeper Menelaos Philippou said he initially supported the monastery by supplying honey free of charge for it to sell. In 2021, he donated 300 jars without labels so the monastery could apply its own, followed by another 200 jars. He said the monastery sold each jar for €10.

Philippou said he began issuing invoices in 2023 and increased the number of jars listed to account for the honey he had supplied free of charge over the previous two years. He said the monastery owed him nearly €2,500, but Tamasos bishop Isaias had told him he could not pay him until the trial was over.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Kostis Efstathiou, Philippou said he had issued the invoices on his own initiative and that they did not reflect the actual delivery dates or prices.

Painter Charalambos Kekkos said the monastery owed him about €15,000. He testified that he had carried out work worth tens of thousands of euros, first at monk Nektarios’ mother’s house and later at the monastery, finishing in 2024.

Disability benefit recipient Costas Petsas said he had donated €6,000 to the monastery but had never been issued a receipt.