A Greek Abbot has been accused of attempting to illegally sell church relics, though his defense claims the items were inherited from his grandmother, Greek media and authorities reported.
Six defendants are being held over charges, which involved prized historic artefacts being listed for sale at €200,000.
The abbot from the Mega Spilaio monastery in the Peloponnese, along with five other suspected accomplices, was arrested on Monday, and a pre-trial hearing was held.
The six suspects have been accused of forming, directing, and joining a criminal organisation. They may face the additional charge of embezzlement, according to EuroNews, although they all maintain their innocence.
Greek Police claimed the network attempted to sell 17 Byzantine icons and two rare gospels, dated 1737 and 1761, to an undercover officer.
Infiltrating the network
The group’s alleged leader allegedly maintained connections with auction houses in Germany and Cyprus for the exportation of historic artefacts, investigators alleged. One of the icons and one of the gospels is understood to have been taken from a religious site in Sparta.
Police claim that the investigation into the abbot and his network came after they received an anonymous tip, and efforts were immediately made to infiltrate the antique trafficking network.
The Greek Orthodox Church's Metropolis of Kalavryta has since dismissed multiple members of the alleged network.