The ecclesiastical court hearing for the Saint Habakkuk monastery case has been postponed following a request by the defence on Friday.
Lawyers representing three monks from the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk have requested the delay, citing the need for their new counsel to review the case, a member of the legal team said.
Anastasios Vavouskos, one of the lawyers representing the monks, spoke outside the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, stating that the postponement would allow newly appointed attorney Giorgos Stylianou to familiarise himself with the case file.
“I hope they will accept the request for a postponement because, in addition to legal reasons, there are also humanitarian reasons that make it necessary, and we await the development,” Vavouskos said.
According to sources, the new hearing could be set on September 9.
The two suspended archimandrites, Nektarios and Porphyrios, along with monk Habakkuk, arrived at the Archbishopric at 8:45 a.m. to appear before the Six-Member Synodal Court.
The change in legal representation follows the resignation of Efstathios Efstathiou, previously announced in a public statement. Giorgos Stylianou has been confirmed as the new counsel for the monks.
Earlier, the Synodal Court had unanimously ruled that Vavouskos could not act as a defence lawyer in the proceedings, citing provisions in the Charter of the Church of Cyprus.
The Bishop of Tamassos and Orinis, Isaias, is expected to testify as a prosecution witness at the Archbishopric today, according to the court schedule.
Case background
The Saint Habakkuk Monastery scandal is an ongoing legal and religious investigation involving allegations of financial impropriety, abuse of power, and fraud against the three suspended monks: Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou, Archimandrite Porfyrios Ttoulos, and Hieromonk Habakkuk Christofi.
The scandal erupted in early 2024 following a raid on the monastery by authorities, which uncovered a significant sum of undeclared cash. Subsequent investigations revealed allegations of money laundering, fraud, and obtaining money through false pretences. The monks have denied all accusations, claiming that their financial operations were legitimate.
The Church has appointed an investigative committee to examine the allegations and determine appropriate disciplinary measures.
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