To some extent, the testimony given recently by theologian Theodoros Kyriakou is considered supportive of the complaint made by an individual who claimed to be a victim of sexual harassment by a monk from the Monastery of Habakkuk.
Although the approach towards him by this individual occurred recently, after the scandal involving the Monastery erupted and following the intervention of a member of the Accept LGBTI Cyprus organisation, it is still considered supportive of what he has reported to the Police.
The investigation by the Sub-Directorate for the Management of Cases of Vulnerable Persons, concerning the complaint of an individual who was associated with the Monastery for some time, continues.
It is expected that other individuals named in his testimony, whether they were aware or had become accomplices in the matter, will also be called upon.
It is not excluded that individuals from the Monastery may be called before the person identified as a suspect in the harassment case is summoned.
As Kyriakou stated yesterday on the philenews podcast, in early March and after revelations about alleged financial and ethical misconduct at the monastery came to light, he was contacted by a member of the non-profit organisation Accept LGBTI Cyprus.
The member informed him that a young man wished to speak to him about his experience at the Holy Monastery.
Kyriakou said he spoke with the young man over the phone, who told him that he had been sexually harassed by a monk and that until that moment, he “did not dare to speak out because he was afraid, but now decided to do so.”
According to the alleged victim, Kyriakou said, he had a professional relationship with the Monastery, stayed there for a period, and his complaint to the authorities concerns ongoing sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, the police’s self-initiated investigation into violence against a woman by a monk from the Monastery is in its final stage and will be forwarded to the Legal Service for review.
Regarding the criminal investigations into the financial aspect of the scandal and the allegations of monks against Bishop Tamasou, the Police continue to take testimonies from individuals associated with the Monastery and the diocese to ascertain several matters before proceeding to the interrogation stage.
