Two cases involving priests in Greece have shocked the public over the past week.
A 49-year-old priest in the town of Agrinio in Western Greece is currently accused of raping a minor and sexually assaulting her underaged sister while the two were under his care at a local children’s home.
The women, now 27 and 22 years old respectively, found the courage to come forward inspired by a barrage of other women going public as victims of sexual crimes in Greece.
Following the police report filed five months ago, authorities carried out a surprise search at the priest’s home as soon a warrant could be issued.
During the search, police discovered pornographic material featuring several minors, also victims of sexual abuse.
The 49-year-old priest has since been arrested and a case has already been filed and presented to the prosecutor of Agrinio, the national TV broadcaster ERT has reported.
According to local news provider Agrinio Press, the priest also officiates in neighbouring villages in the area and has been known to take under his wing several women that are in domestic violence situations or face financial and family difficulties.
He is said to have played the role of “comforter” of women who faced problems with their relationships, their families, etc.
The priest has denied all accusations.
Priest that threw caustic liquid at seven metropolitans in Athens during Synod to be evaluated at psychiatric hospital before taken to Prosecutor
A 37-year-old priest who attacked seven metropolitans and a police officer with two bottles of vitriol during the Synodal Court at Petraki Monastery in Athens is to be assessed by mental health professional before charges are laid.
The injured bishops and the officer present were taken to different hospitals to be treated but no serious or life-threatening injuries were inflicted.
The priest, who was dismissed from the Metropolis of Veria was accused of drug trafficking in 2018 and had been since threatening of taking matters into his own hands, should the Synod decide to dismiss him from his duties.
Following the attack, the perpetrator that was taken to the Athens Security Sub-Directorate for prosecution under the Law of Crimes against Life and Property in civilian clothes and in cuffs refused to make any statements to the police.
“I threw the liquid at them because they dismissed me,” he said later, claiming that he purchased the acid online.
It is noted, that the Security Sub-directorate of Athens has decided to seek psychiatric evaluation from mental health professionals hence the perpetrator was transferred to Dromokaiteio Psychiatric Clinic of Athens.
Talking to local TV and radio broadcaster SKAI, the now ex-priest’s lawyer Andreas Theodoropoulos said that his client is mentally unstable and that his condition should be taken into account before the laying of any charges.
