Ongoing monks trial delayed

An ongoing church trial against monks involved in the Osiou Avakoum monastery scandal was on Wednesday postponed until next week.

The six-member Holy Synod court decided that they would postpone passing judgement on Archimandrites Nektarios and Porfyrios and monk Avakoum until they receive a scientific opinion on CCTV data presented as evidence in the court.

The evidence is meant to depict monks concealing money and having sex.

According to what was heard in the church court, the videos were disputed by the monks who said the expert who had previously examined them and presented his findings had been hired by Tamassos Bishop Isaias, who is their main accuser.

At this point the court decided to have it re-examined.

The court said it had heard the prosecution and defence witnesses and cross-examined them and that, “it has decided to seek a further scientific opinion on the testimonial material”.

After receiving the opinion, the defendants will be close to make their closing arguments.

“We want to state once again that the process will be fair with full transparency,” the court said.

The monks had been expected to have made their final arguments on Wednesday.

However, it was postponed until a scientific opinion can be given.

The monks, who are defending themselves, claimed on Tuesday that other members of the clergy are involved.

The others also implicated by the monks are believed to have also taken part in unethical acts that go against the code of the Church of Cyprus, it emerged in a report in Reporter.

A source close to the church said whether the church defrocks the monks or not, there is no guarantee that the information against other clergy will not spill out.