The abbot of the Mega Spilaio Monastery who is accused of preparing to sell Byzantine icons as well as two 18th-century Gospels was brought before the Corinth prosecutor on Monday afternoon (8/9). According to reports, the price he was asking for the total of 17 Byzantine icons and the two Gospels – dating from 1737 and 1761 – was 200,000 euros.
According to the same reports, at least one of the icons that the clergyman wanted to sell was stolen from Sparta.
The arrest of the abbot and his assistant occurred after a police operation in which a female undercover officer posed as a potential buyer interested in purchasing the icons. Following the police operation, the Ministry of Culture is also conducting an examination of the findings and their value.
