Arsenios Autoreianos

An Athens criminal court on Tuesday acquitted all 14 defendants charged in connection with a contentious property swap between the Vatopedi Monastery in the monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece and the Greek state.

An Athens criminal court on Tuesday acquitted all 14 defendants charged in connection with a property swap between the Vatopedi Monastery in the Mount Athos monastic community in northern Greece and the Greek state.

The criminal trial relating to the infamous property swap between the Vatopedi Monastery and the Greek state entered its final phase on Thursday when two of the protagonists in the exchange, Abbot Ephraim and monk Arsenios, appeared in court in Athens.

The trial of 13 people over the alleged Vatopedi Monastery land swap scandal was on Tuesday adjourned for a second time and is now due to resume on April 21.

The trial of 13 people over the alleged Vatopedi Monastery land swap scandal began on Monday but was adjourned until March 23.

The judged adjourned the trial so a new, larger courtroom could be assigned. Originally, 14 people were due to stand trial but one of the accused has died.

Fourteen people are due to go on trial on Monday in connection to the alleged Vatopedi Monastery land swap scandal.

The Supreme Court decided Friday that 14 people should stand trial for the notorious property swap between the Vatopedi Monastery and the state six years ago.

Those who will face charges of breach of trust and making false declarations include the monastery’s abbot, Ephraim (photo), a monk, Arsenios, and the wife of former Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis, Katerina Peleki.