EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). Once again, Patriarch Bartholomew’s name is entangled in scandal — this time in Crete, where the mafia has long operated as a state within a state. Instead of defending the Church, Bartholomew aligned himself with underworld bosses and their political patrons in Athens, promoting a candidate for bishop who was nothing less than the mafia’s man. The faithful of Crete resisted bravely, but the revelations now unfolding — blackmail of abbots, stolen monastery lands, threats against hierarchs, and 49 mafia arrests — expose a shameful alliance of the Phanar, the government, and organized crime. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHEN YOU HEAR OF ANY “SCANDAL” OR “MAFIA OPERATION” IN CHANIA, THE MITSOTAKIS FAMILY IS INVOLVED – AND MAYBE SOME OF ITS OPERATIVES HERE IN NEW YORK.
WILL BARTHOLOMEW NOW CANCEL THE UPCOMING TRIP TO THE U.S.? EVEN MORE, WILL THE ARCHONS AND YOU THE FAITHFUL “HONOR” WITH YOUR PRESENCE SUCH A CATASTROPHIC PATRIARCH?
Below are the highlights of the scandal, followed by the complete revelations by today’s “Dimoklratia” of Athens….
Highlights of the Scandal
Bartholomew and the Mafia’s Candidate: After Metropolitan Damaskinos’ death, the Chania mafia and Patriarch Bartholomew — backed by the government — pushed the same archimandrite for bishop, as confirmed by wiretaps.
Threats and Blackmail: Bartholomew threatened defrocking of Cretan hierarchs, while the mafia intimidated clergy and blackmailed a monastery abbot to seize church lands.
Stolen Property: A mafia boss grabbed 175 acres of monastery land at Stavros, later selling it to Israeli interests for millions. This was right next to the place where the famous movie “Zorba the Greek was filmed!! The value of the property is beyond measure, and it is said that an Israeli company bought it!!
49 Arrests: Police cracked down on the gang, arresting 49 criminals — including police, military, and an archimandrite — tied to drugs, weapons, extortion, and church-land rackets.
Government Collusion: Athens blocked Metropolitan Amphilochios, the clergy’s choice to defend church property, even rushing a law to prevent his transfer.
Trigger Incident: A fatal drunk-driving crash in early 2024 exposed police corruption, leading to undercover operations that unraveled the mafia network.
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The Patriarch Was Promoting a Man of the Mobsters
September 2, 2025 | 13:59
The “Holy Scandal” and Bartholomew’s Threats to Block the Transfer of Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos to Chania, Insisting Instead on a Certain Archimandrite
“Signs and wonders” in Crete with pistols and cassocks, where the local mafia sought to impose their own bishop in the vacant Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronas in Chania, following the repose last April of the late Metropolitan Damaskinos.
By Vasilis Chitos
Unfortunately, with the involvement of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Greek government, as today’s edition of Dimokratia reveals, they were promoting a man connected to the mafia. In order to impose their chosen candidate, they went so far as to openly threaten the hierarchs of Crete who resisted these lawless plans. The issue is enormous and the revelations are explosive.
The Mafia of Chania as a “State Within a State”
The Chania mafia became a state within a state, led by a local crime boss who in the past managed to obtain — for a paltry sum — 175 acres right next to the spot where the legendary 1964 film Zorba the Greek with Anthony Quinn was shot, based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis with music by Mikis Theodorakis.
The Prime Property
This “holy scandal” stretches far back, but now it fully emerges as 49 members of the local underworld have been arrested in Crete. These criminals spread fear while trafficking drugs, selling weapons, and running protection rackets — all with the help of corrupt police officers and uniformed members of the Armed Forces. The “mastermind” of this criminal organization was the mafia boss who orchestrated the theft of church property, ruling the region together with his brother.
To pull off this land grab, the inexplicable “inaction” of the Monastery of Tzagkarolon in Chania was required. The monastery allowed the land-grabber to gain ownership of 175 acres at Stavros through adverse possession, and then sell it to a company of Israeli interests for millions.
The monastery, as the rightful owner, through negligence and delayed legal action (filed after deadlines), “gifted” the enormous seaside estate and allowed its resale as a genuine “prime parcel.” The local Church later attempted to recover the property and challenge the land grab, but these efforts have failed to this day. According to today’s surveillance of the mafia by law enforcement, the abbot of the monastery at the time was held hostage by compromising DVDs and recordings of his private moments, making him a submissive tool in the hands of the Chania mob boss.
The autonomous Church of Crete, in a unanimous decision of its Holy Eparchial Synod, convened on November 28, 2023, to address this grave issue of stolen property.
The previous abbot was removed, though the monastery already held titles proving its ownership of the land. However, he had failed to defend the monastery’s rights in court. According to his supporters, a committee had been formed and the Church had even filed against the Forestry Service to change the land’s designation — but when an expert appraisal was required, the fee was deemed too high and the monastery froze the matter. Meanwhile, the sales went forward.
Wiretaps Reveal Patriarch’s Candidate Was the Mafia’s Candidate
In the legal wiretaps now made public, mafia members are heard promoting for the new metropolitan of Chania a specific archimandrite — the same man favored insistently by Patriarch Bartholomew and the Greek government, with personal interest from both the Prime Minister and his sister Dora Bakoyannis.
The Church of Crete, united, refused this archimandrite and instead demanded the transfer of Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selino, so that the fight to reclaim the lost church property could continue and lawlessness be reined in. This had been highlighted by Dimokratia in a front-page article, provoking a severe and puzzling crisis within the Church of Crete — which now becomes clearer in light of the mafia revelations.
Government Obstacles
The Greek government placed obstacles in front of Metropolitan Amphilochios, citing his “offensive” remarks to the German president about war reparations. During a historic intervention, he had directly rebuked President Steinmeier for Nazi crimes and unpaid reparations — the only figure to do so during the president’s official visit to Crete.
Then the Ecumenical Patriarchate took over, threatening to defrock the Cretan hierarchs unless they voted for its chosen candidate — who, as is now clear, was also the mafia’s chosen man. In fact, the Phanar pushed through an amendment in the Greek Parliament (with the consent of the government) forbidding the transfer of metropolitans, even though this had occurred in the past.
Why such obsession and collusion in favor of a candidate so passionately backed by mobsters? What channels connect the Phanar and today’s government with the blackmailing underworld? These are very serious questions demanding immediate answers. The faithful of Crete, however, still insist on the transfer of Metropolitan Amphilochios, despite the obstacles, while the “head” resists. Perhaps after these revelations, the stance will change. The election remains pending thanks to the courageous stand of the clergy and people of Crete.
“Key” Figure: Archimandrite Who Blackmailed Clergy
Among the mafia’s tools was an archimandrite who allegedly blackmailed other priests on behalf of the organization, which controlled protection rackets and church land in the prefecture.
The two mafia brothers faced resistance only from two undercover police officers, who came to Crete posing as restaurant workers to infiltrate their circle. The investigation began in February, but June proved decisive when these two officers acted as bait.
Among the 49 arrested are also individuals linked to those who carried out the notorious kidnapping of businessman Michalis Lempidakis. Authorities began investigating seriously in autumn 2024, after a string of drug cases in Chania and Rethymno. The turning point was a bomb attack in January 2024 at the home of a Chania police officer, which led to a long investigation and the current results.
Fatal Accident that Opened the Path to “Unraveling”
The fatal car crash last January and the purge of the Chania Police leadership exposed the mafia network. Local police leadership was removed after officers negligently allowed a drunk driver to continue driving, leading to a head-on collision that killed 22-year-old Panagiotis.
The 45-year-old driver had been caught drunk earlier that day but was released, with his keys handed to his passenger. Hours later, he drove again, causing the fatal crash. The scandal led to the dismissal of the police leadership, replaced by Brigadier Nikos Kanellos, a senior police unionist previously serving as head of the Security Subdivision of Attica.
Shocked! Absolutely shocked by these revelations! Bart must depart!
No Shockeroonie here. The question is: How much was ol’ Bart. paid to keep quiet and promote? Follow the money. Follow the wire transfers, cash payments, oversea banks. Garnish Bart’s bank accounts. Seize all properties until money trail is found and recovered in full. Demand reparations. Bartholomew is no holier than thou. Demand his resignation, NOW!
Yes, on his own, Sotirios of Canada has sent and estimated millions of dollars to Bartholomew over the years, and the sale of these monastery properties, not to mention other monies being funnelled to Phanar … and considering how poor the Patriarchate is in Istanbul … what on earth is being done with all this money? Can there be no audit of all this money?
There is no real audit anywhere! Not at the Patriarchate, not at the Archdiocese, not at the local parishes! The faithful flock give their money at the church and they think naively that God will do the audit…
While the unbelievable details in this article may resemble a Hollywood script, it is important for readers who are not familiar with recent “background history” on such matters to refresh their memory on what has been going on in Greece for several decades now…We can take a simple example of a single monastery (of the many) in Crete…Toplou Monastery…where for several decades there has been a fight going on with the Greek Government over ownership of some most coveted coastline land in the East of Crete, amounting to 26,000 “stremmata”, or 6000+ acres:
https://www.tanea.gr/2008/11/21/greece/sanidas-ta-3-000-stremmata-tis-monis-toploy-eginan-26-000/#google_vignette
You can imagine how many developers are “drooling” over such pristine beachfront property, as well as how many government officials, friends, and family members might “benefit” from such a transaction…
Furthermore, if the term “mafia” appears to be an exaggeration to some, they should remind themselves what transpired with the two nuns that refused (according to testimony from locals who spoke to media after the fact) to cooperate with the Metropolitan’s demand in Arkadia, Greece to allow the Metropolis to sell some valuable beach-front property back in the day…while the Metropolis was never “directly implicated” in this matter, the scenario that a “mafia” was involved in the execution is not out of the question according to the news reports…
https://www.flash.gr/exichniastike-i-dipli-dolofonia-twn-monachwn-stin-arkadia-218468
https://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/25/archive/ena-zeygari-ypopto-gia-ti-dolofonia-twn-monaxwn/
https://www.newsnowgr.com/article/1291053/iera-moni-artokostas-o-thrylos-tis-kynourias.html
4 years later, the monastery was re-established as a “men’s monastery”.
I personally heard testimony of another abbot on another island (not Crete) that has been “intensely pressured” by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to sell some very lucrative beachfront property that belongs to his monastery as well…he feels there is real and present danger at any time that he may suffer an “accident” that would render the monastery “vacant”, and by existing legal statute allow its takeover by the newer Metropolitan, who seems to be eager to do whatever Constantinople wants…it would be very easy to sell the land once the Metropolis takes over…
Anyway, these recent examples from recent Greek history are only to provide a hypothetical understanding of “under what conditions” it might be important for a “super corrupt Synod” (and even government) to lobby intensely for a “super corrupt” Metropolitan to be put in a key Metropolis possessing large Ecclesiastical assets…if that is really what is happening in Crete, at least recent history shows us that it might be less of a “Hollywood scenario” than we might think…
As for this paragraph:
To pull off this land grab, the inexplicable “inaction” of the Monastery of Tzagkarolon in Chania was required. The monastery allowed the land-grabber to gain ownership of 175 acres at Stavros through adverse possession, and then sell it to a company of Israeli interests for millions.
There is a recent court case I am aware of in another prefecture of Greece that cites a law from 1911 that bars ANY ecclesiastical property from being acquired & sold by “squatter’s rights” (adverse possession), with the exception if the one claiming possession produces documents that the property transfer occurred prior to 1871…However, given that Crete became part of Greece later, I am not sure if the judges looked the other way, or if they didn’t bother challenging this in court…they probably should…the sale would then be nullified if that 1911 law applies in this case…
Λυπάμαι. Τίποτε άλλο !
Shame upon shame, upon shame. Is this supposed to be a man of God? If he does not voluntarily depart now, he has no shame at all! Shame!!! This cancer in the Church must not be allowed to spread, the way it has spread within Greece’s political system.
Why should it be up to Black Bart, a ridiculous FRAUD of a hierarch to resign????
He should’ve been THROWN OUT ages ago. And that no one will do anything is at the least, implied consent. At worst, abetting his criminality. ENOUGH ALREADY.
Challenge your parish priest, and in turn his ‘metropolitan’ (if you insist on flattering our unworthy bishops with that title), on why he supports such an apparently criminal organization.
Fold your wallets closed, fold your arms in consternation, and await the excuses and the expected claims that the Church is ‘holy’.
Our priests serve the Bishop who serves Bart…
Nobody is above the law!
Those clergy convicted of crimes must be punished and sent to jail!
It’s about time that the Ecumenical Patriarchio in Constantinople be removed and restored to Greece, to the nucleus as a legitimate source or topos’ of Greek Orthodoxy. Consequently, there is a huge discrepancy, in its Christian Mission to be located as an occupied historical sanctuary, that is surrounded by
80 million adversarial Turks who have no affinity to Greek Christian Orthodoxy. All of them-bestowed clergy- are Turkish Citizens, whose loyalty, represent, the best interest for the nation of Turkey. The lack of institutional control on all dimensions is beyond comprehension, it is regrettably and unfortunately,
unacceptable!
It would be more interesting if we collectively “wake up” one day and ask how GOARCH ended up accepting to be under Constantinople (thanks to Meletios Metaxakis and his cronies), when the original immigrants and original priests mostly came from territories belonging to the Church of Greece…perhaps we should just align our parishes with the Church of Greece, just like the other Orthodox jurisdictions in North America have done, aligning with their own “homeland Synods” (Serbians, Russians, Romanians, Antiochians, etc…)
That would be a good and fair start to producing a “reset” of sorts, a decoupling from this ridiculousness that we are witnessing, without violating any additional Canons (given that the bishops in N. America are already violating Apostolic Canons anyway, with multiple bishops claiming jurisdiction over the same cities and states…)