Father Antonios acquitted in Ark of the World case in Ioannina

Father Antonios and two others have been acquitted in a case involving the Ark of the World charity in Ioannina.

Father Antonios faced charges of instigating the alleged offences, while Andriani Theodorakopoulou, director of the charity’s Ioannina facility, was charged with causing bodily harm to minors through the deliberate infliction of psychological distress, as well as unlawful detention and violence. Educator Paschalis Skordas faced charges of causing bodily harm to minors.

In a joint statement, lawyers Dimitrios Dimos, Christina Mastora and Georgios Georgiou referred to the length and scope of the proceedings, maintaining that the verdict was based on an assessment of the evidence. “The matter now rests with the judiciary, which ruled on the basis of evidence rather than impressions,” they said.

In June 2026, Father Antonios, his wife and another individual were referred to trial on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust involving the Ark of the World.

The lawyers also argued that the presumption of innocence had not been respected, with the defendants portrayed as guilty in parts of the public debate before the trial concluded. “The presumption of innocence was blatantly violated. Our clients were publicly treated as guilty before being tried, and their reputations were exposed without any reservation,” they said.

The ruling is separate from other legal proceedings involving the Ark of the World. In another case, Father Antonios was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison, with the sentence converted into a financial penalty.

Source: Skai.gr