Efforts to reconcile the two sides in the Habakkuk Monastery scandal have been made lately, but it seems that the conditions for this have not been ripe.
According to information from Phileleftehros, the monks sent to the side of Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamasos messages in the form of soundings, to “find a solution” so that the mutual complaints to the police can be withdrawn. According to the same information, on two occasions, efforts were made to examine this perspective in order not to further exacerbate the situation and expose persons and institutions, always in the name of the Church.
The monks leave the ecclesiastical aspect out of the equation, leaving the matter to the Holy Synod.
Last Friday, when the parties involved were at the Nicosia District Court to hear the application of the monks and others to annul the €807,000 freeze order before the court convened, the judge called everyone’s lawyers to a meeting in his office and recommended that they “work it out” so that they would not have to enter into a legal battle, an action that is common in disputes to gain court time.
Efforts to find a happy medium at least on the criminal issue continue and the position of the Metropolitan of Tamasos is expected. He may wait for the outcome of the investigations into the origin of the €807,000 and then determine his final position.
If it turns out that this money, which was received by delegates of the diocese from the monastery, belongs to private individuals who gave it to Abbot Nectarios for a specific purpose, then things will change. But if it is shown that they came from contributions from the faithful, then Metropolitan Isaiah’s side will persist in its accusation of exploitation of human suffering.
