A controversy has erupted at the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk in Fterikoudi, encompassing everything from surveillance and videotaping of worshippers to sexual relations between monks.
At the heart of the scandal is also the discovery of a safe containing €800,000 and properties in Piraeus and Limassol, which are believed to be owned by two members of the monastery.
Authorities are probing whether these funds were derived from the donations of the faithful.
The case took on added gravity following the uncovering of sexual acts between two monks, captured by cameras allegedly installed by the monks themselves.
These devices were reportedly set up to monitor individuals entering and exiting an office within the monastery and a room used as a bedroom.
As reported by philenews, the implicated monks have sought to be defrocked, a request that is expected to be addressed in a session of the Holy Synod.
The matter is slated for rapid resolution through expedited procedures unless there are calls from the Holy Synod for a comprehensive briefing.
Notably, the popular monastery attracted high-ranking members of the Holy Synod, including the Metropolitan of Paphos Tychikos and the Bishop of Morphou Neophytos. The monastery was under the supervision of the Bishop of Tamasos Isaias, to whom the two monks turned in their plea for defrocking.
The monks are said to possess real estate in Piraeus and Limassol, raising questions about the origins of their wealth.
Furthermore, the safe in question was found to contain €800,000.
This scandal, initially saw attempts at concealment, but these efforts ultimately failed. This incident marks the second instance of a clergyman requesting defrocking, philenews reports.
