Monks Seek Return to Monastery Amid Legal and Ecclesiastical Turmoil
In an unexpected turn of events within the Cypriot Orthodox Church, monks implicated in the Osiou Avakoum monastery scandal in Fterikoudes, Nicosia, have expressed their desire to return to their ecclesiastical residence. The request was formalized through a letter penned by the monks’ legal representatives, appealing for the dismissal of the ongoing case against them both in the church and the Holy Synod.
The monks’ plea hinges on the disciplinary actions already taken by Tamassos Bishop Isaias, who imposed a three-month suspension on three monks and additionally barred one from receiving communion for a month. Their lawyers argue that these sentences should preclude further trials on similar charges, citing ecclesiastical rules against double jeopardy.
However, the situation has been complicated by a recent complaint lodged by the Cyprus bar association against two lawyers representing the monks. The complaint specifically targets Andriana Klaedes and Anastasios Vavouskos for their roles in sending a contentious letter to the Holy Synod’s investigative committee. The letter called for the charges’ dismissal and suggested that Archbishop Georgios assume control over the matter. Notably, Vavouskos is not a registered member of the Cyprus Bar Association, which adds a layer of controversy to the proceedings.
The allegations against the monks surfaced a month ago when Bishop Isaias accused them of possessing €800,000 in cash, owning properties in Greece and Limassol, and engaging in sexual misconduct, as purportedly captured on CCTV footage.
Archimandrite Nektarios, one of the monks, has publicly refuted the accusations in an open letter. He describes the shock and violation felt when “hooded men invaded the monastery,” and laments the drastic shift in perception from respected monks to individuals accused of deception, theft, and sexual harassment. Nektarios also claims they were subjected to “inhumane treatment” and coerced into signing false confessions.
The unfolding scandal has rocked the local religious community and raised questions about ecclesiastical governance, legal processes, and ethical conduct within one of Cyprus’s most revered institutions.
