Police have released an image and footage of a man they would like to speak to after 78-year-old Penelope Katsavos was allegedly savagely attacked while opening a Greek church in South Yarra on Saturday morning.
The man has been described as Caucasian in appearance, of a thin build, with dark coloured hair and a moustache. In the footage he is seen wearing a brown T-shirt, dark pants and shoes.
The Greek Australian woman, known to the parish as Kyra Poppy, was opening Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in South Yarra at 6am on Saturday when she was viciously attacked outside her church.
According to what is known so far, Mrs Katsavos was punched in the face and kicked by an unknown to her person, who then fled with her trolley, in which she kept her personal items and things needed for the church.
Her attacker dumped her trolley a few streets away without taking any of her personal belongings.
Senior Constable Peker urged the man who has been captured on CCTV walking with a trolley on Chapel Street, to hand himself in.
The unfortunate woman lay alone bleeding for half an hour on Barry Street before she was found by the priest, his wife and a friend, according to Neos Kosmos’ sources. They then alerted the police to the incident and called an ambulance.
Penelope Katsavos is steadily recovering from her injuries and is being monitored in hospital.
“She can’t wait to return home,” her son Evripides Katsavos told Neos Kosmos adding that she is certainly improving and doing much better than expected.
“She will need a few more days in hospital to recover her mobility, but otherwise she is doing well.”
Mrs Katsavos was in shock for the first couple of days but now that she is rested she can think more clearly, her son explained.
“She recollects the incident and remembers quite a lot. It is a strange thing that they took her things and then dumped them somewhere.”
The Greek Australian parishioner is overwhelmed by the messages of love, good wishes and flowers she has received from the community, the church groups and relatives from Greece, Mr Katsavos adds.
“She is very positive and strong thanks to her religion and looking forward to coming home and going back to church. This isn’t going to stop her!”
A message was also sent from Archbishop Makarios of Australia in which he condemns the savage attack against the devoted parishioner of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church and sends his personal wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
