Icons, secrets, an abbot and a sting in Kalavryta

The illicit antiquities trafficking lawsuit that grabbed headlines past week saw constabulary apprehension a monastery abbot and respective others aft undercover officers posed arsenic buyers of spiritual icons and past coins.

The probe began successful August when officers infiltrated meetings with a pawnbroker, his wife, and a antheral known arsenic “Jackson,” antecedently convicted of antiquities trafficking. The web allegedly included a Corinthian livestock husbandman and the 63-year-old abbot of the historical Megalo Spilaio Monastery successful Kalavryta. According to police, the abbot and a monk offered two Gospels, two spiritual books, and Byzantine icons for sale, claiming some were successful safekeeping. He besides allegedly revealed the determination of a buried bronze statue of Artemis.

On September 7, constabulary arrested each suspects and seized 14 icons, two Gospels dated 1761 and 1737, and a 1777 spiritual book. Authorities are verifying their provenance.The abbot denies the charges.