Three witnesses testify in Avakoum Monastery case in Cyprus — Cyprus Mail

In the case concerning alleged fraud at Avakoum Monastery in Cyprus, three prosecution witnesses spoke of the monastery's debts and a donation for which no receipt was issued. Former monks Nektarios and Porphyrios are in the dock and deny guilt, Cyprus Mail reports.

Claims about the monastery's debts

Beekeeper Menelaos Philippou said the monastery owed him nearly €2,500. According to him, in 2021 he provided the monastery with 300 unlabeled jars of honey so it could use its own branding, and later donated another 200 jars. The witness said the monastery sold each jar for €10.

Philippou also said that in 2023 he began issuing invoices for the honey, including products he had previously supplied free of charge over two years. During cross-examination, he acknowledged that these invoices were his own initiative and did not reflect the actual delivery dates or the real price of the honey. According to the witness, Bishop Isaias of Tamassos said he could not make a payment until the proceedings were completed.

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Painter Charalambos Kekkos said he carried out work worth tens of thousands of euros, first at Nektarios' mother's home and then at the monastery. He completed the work in 2024 and claims the monastery owes him nearly €15,000. After contacting the Diocese of Tamassos regarding payment, he was referred to Nektarios. Kekkos also said he had filed a lawsuit against the diocese to recover the VAT he had paid.

Donation without a receipt and charges

Disability benefit recipient Costas Petsas told the court that he donated €6,000 in cash to the monastery but did not receive a receipt. According to him, at the beginning of 2022 Nektarios asked him to provide financial assistance to the monastery and promised an icon as a gift. The witness added that his name was to be included on the list of benefactors.

Nektarios and Porphyrios have been charged, among other things, with conspiracy to defraud, forgery and use of forged documents, theft by an agent, possession of stolen property, money laundering, interference with judicial proceedings and filing false tax returns. The next hearings were scheduled for October 5 and 7 at 9:30 a.m.