A three-member Court of Misdemeanors in Athens sentenced to 4 years and 3 months imprisonment to Father Antonios, founder of children’s charity Kivotos tou Kosmou (Arc of the World) for abusive physical and psychological behavior towards children hosted in the homes of the NGO.
The court found Father Antonios guilty of two acts of grievous bodily harm to minors who were under his protection as well as for moral complicity in dangerous bodily harm to a minor, in bodily harm and in threats.
Four of his close associates, working in the NGO’s structures, were sentenced to 17 to 40 months in prison.
All convicted were granted 3-year probation, while their sentence is convertible to 10 euros per day.
The court unanimously found five of the eight defendants guilty, fully acquitting three and acquitting those found guilty of several acts.
The scandal around the children charity broke out in November 2022 when at least one minor complained about sexual and physical abuse. In the course of investigation, authorities found also financial mismanagement of the NGO that received thousands of euros as well as other forms of donations such as real estate.
The government replaced the charity board, the church removed Father Antonios, a priest, from its records.
The former head of Kivotos toy Kosmoy, he founded in 1998, is to face more trials.
Exiting the court earlier today, Father Antonios told media that he will keep fighting to clear his name of any charges.
“I never betrayed you and I’ll never will,” he stressed addressing his supporters, if any left.
If this was done by somebody no being part of the clergy, he would have gone straight to jail. No suspended jail sentence. They think they are above the law but they are not above God’s law, for Jesus said “what you have done to the least of me, you have done to me”. Afterlife retribution will await them.