Father Antonios, the founder of the children charity organization “Kivotos toy Kosmou” or Ark of the World, was unanimously found guilty by the Athens Court of Appeals on Thursday for a series of abusive and punitive actions against children in his care.

The criminal court handed him a combined prison sentence of 9 years and 6 months, effectively reduced to 8 years after merging the sentences.

The court also converted the sentence to a daily fine of €10, meaning he could remain free by paying approximately €60,000.

In a statement, Father Antonios reportedly said that he, his wife and their underage child live on a reduced income and that neither he nor his relatives can pay the total fine. He called of his supporters to contribute to the amount he needed to remain free.

“I am unable to pay the 60,000 euro bail, I hope for the help of my fellow human beings,” he said. He stated that he was unable to pay even the minimum amount of money, hoping to receive “help from his fellow human beings”.

Father Antonios revealed that his lawyers have resigned and that he will follow the “path of martyrdom that this court decision has paved for him, as far as human justice dictates.”

At the same time, the victims’ lawyers reportedly stated that “Father Antonios, instead of apologizing to the Court, preferred television interviews in order to avoid the Court’s questions and present himself as a victim of a conspiracy, in view of the other pending cases against him, in particular the indecency trial on 18.03.2026”.

Earlier, the court declared him guilty of 9 individual acts relating to beatings, punishments and forced labor against minor children who resided in structures in Volos, Athens and Kalamata.

The appeal court was stricter than the initial trial, convicting Father Antonios for 9 of the 19 alleged offenses, compared to just 5 in the first instance. The charges included six counts of serious bodily harm to minors, as well as incitement to bodily harm, minor bodily harm, and threats.

In addition to Father Antonios, four of his six collaborators were also found guilty. Those convicted include a former board member, the former head of educators in Volos, and the former director of the Volos facility. Two other collaborators were acquitted of all charges.

Father Antonios was arrested in 2022 following complaints by teenagers and the charity came under the control of a board of auditors.