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A sprawling crime investigation in Crete has exposed what Greek media are calling a “state within a state,” with tentacles reaching into extortion, drug and arms trafficking, money laundering, and even the Church. Authorities say the alleged network may also extend beyond Greece’s borders into Cyprus.
Among the most startling claims: the possible trafficking of sacred relics, including those linked to Saint Lazarus.
Cyprus connection and relic claims
Wiretapped conversations cited in the case file suggest an archimandrite tied to the ring boasted of having “genuine relics of Saint Lazarus,” supposedly obtained from a monastery in Cyprus. When pressed on their authenticity, he reportedly snapped back, “Shut up, you idiot… don’t talk nonsense,” before insisting he had “a large quantity” to share.
The same cleric allegedly mentioned possessing a fragment of the Holy Cross, which he claimed to have acquired through contacts in Phanar, the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.
The exchanges have raised troubling questions about whether sacred objects of great religious and historical value were being traded illegally, and by whom.
Church denies any handover
Metropolitan Nektarios of Kition moved quickly to reject the claims. In a statement, he said the relics of Saint Lazarus “are kept sealed inside the reliquary and have not been removed or handed over to third parties.” He added that since taking office in 2019, “no relics have ever been given from the Holy Temple of Saint Lazarus in Crete.”
The ‘Cretan mafia’ case
The broader case involves two businessman brothers and an archimandrite, with authorities compiling a 1,500-page file and already placing 16 people in custody.
Investigators say the ring drew in police officers, soldiers, and priests, offering them fast-tracked promotions while also buying up church property at rock-bottom prices to resell for profit. The archimandrite himself was allegedly blackmailed with a compromising video, which pushed him deeper into the scheme.
Authorities warn this is no ordinary organized crime case. Beyond drugs and money laundering, it cuts into the credibility of the Church and, now, possibly, the handling of revered relics tied to Cyprus’ religious heritage.
