How the organization set up in the monastery of Cave in Kalavryta and what was the exact role of its members, -starring him abbot– They are trying to find the executives of the Greek FBI.
The outrageous case with the sale of Byzantine icons and ancient Gospels by the abbot of the Monastery of the Great Cavehas caused a great feeling, especially if one includes that some of the religious relics that had come out on the “hammer” for almost 200,000 euros, They had been stolen from Sparta.
The organization was trying to sell 17 Byzantine picturesas well as for 2 Rare Gospels, dated from 1737 and 1761.
The “sacred business” were revealed after a Greek FBI investigation. After the first complaints were made, a female police officer appeared as a prospective client, approached the abbot and convinced him that he wanted to buy the Byzantine images.
Then the police officers arrested him in a self -sufficient man. However, behind the circuit is alleged to be a monk and 4 individuals.
Those involved in the Grand Cave case were taken on Monday (08.09.2025) to the Corinthian Prosecutor’s Office But they asked for and received a deadline to apologize next Thursday.
He was prosecuted for the establishment, direction and integration into a criminal organization (considered a felony), embezzlement and omission of a monument declaration, possession and trafficking.
“We were all surprised here in Kalavryta. He is well known in society and very close to the Kalavryta society, “said Kalavryta Mayor Thanasis Papadopoulos.
The Holy Metropolis of Kalavryta and Aigialia, which includes the Holy Monastery of the Great Cave, issued a statement stating the Removal of both the abbot and the monk allegedly involved in the casebut also their replacement.
The role of the members of the organization
In addition to the abbot and the monk, the authorities arrested a man who allegedly was intermediary, another man who had ancient coins and a couple, pawnbrokers in the profession.
According to the police statement, members of the organization found people who had ancient artifacts and wanted to sell them. They then contacted them with their accomplice, who was presented as a special estimator and after completing the sale, sold them through unknown links abroad.
THE “Brain” of the Organization seems to have been one 69 -year -old, that made the final decisions about Buying, selling and costing relics. Appeared as a supposed appraiser.
A 59 -year -old and a 66 -year -old they had undertaken to find people who had ancient objects. The 66 -year -old even did Investigations and excavations to find ancient.
3 people aged 39, 63 and 64 years old had ancient objects (Gospels, ancient books and coins and Byzantine icons), which had agreed to sell.
THE 63 -year -old were abbot Holy Monastery of Achaia, while the 39 -year -old monk of the same monastery.
From the surveys of the placed were found and seized:
- 264 coins,
- 14 religious images,
- 2 Sacred Gospels and 18th -century religious book, Hierarchical Employment, Professional Metal Detection Machine,
- 2 hunting weapons,
- 262 hunting cartridges, knife,
- 12,810 euros gold pound,
- 2 precision scales,
- 2 vehicles,
- 7 mobile, tablet, lens and magnifying lens,
- 18 Photos depicting ancient artifacts and numerous documents – notes
The ongoing research is also involved in the Ministry of Culture to assess the value of religious objects.