Metropolitan Theoklitos resigns over alleged links with Yiossakis but insists he is innocent

   Thessaliotidos Metropolitan Theoklitos offered his resignation to the Holy Synod in writing on Tuesday, stressing that he was resigning from the Thessaliotidos diocese but not from the prelacy.

    The metropolitan's decision, known several days beforehand, was made after his name was embarrassingly linked with that of jailed former archmandrite Iacovos Yiossakis, currently in Korydallos Prison facing charges of antiquities smuggling, and an emerging scandal involving both courts and clergy, in which judges were apparently bribed in order to hand out lighter sentences to known drug dealers.

    Theoklitos, a former spokesman for the Permanent Holy Synod and a close associate of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, insists that his intentions in recommending that Yiossakis be promoted were innocent and that he is resigning to avoid all hint that the archbishop was in any way linked with "covert" centres.

    He also calls for a full investigation into those aspects of the case that involve him so that the truth should be known.

    Theoklitos ended the letter by expressing his gratitude to Archbishop Christodoulos, who he said had acted as his spiritual father and guide over the past 27 years. "All that I am I owe to him," he said.

    As his letter of resignation arrived at the Holy Synod, meanwhile, the resigned metropolitan was appearing before a Supreme Court justice to assist in the Supreme Court's disciplinary inquiry concerning corruption in the judicial system.

    Emerging from a three-hour session, Theoklitos told reporters that he had "told the truth. Nothing more, nothing less."

    He is implicated in the suspected rigging of trial at a Piraeus court, along with remand prisoner Yiossakis.

    In a related case, meanwhile, Greek prosecuting authorities have applied to Swiss courts for permission to open the accounts for former first-instance judge Constantina Bourboulia, while three judicial officials will face prosecution for failing to submit 'means and assets' statements.

   

   

   

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