THE THE GREEK POLICE announced that they were spotted by the Department of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities seven ecclesiastical icons and wooden doors of archaeological value inside the Holy Monastery in Attica.
According to the Police, on Tuesday morning (10/31), a targeted search was carried out in a Monastery of Attica with the assistance of a team of archaeologists specializing in Byzantine Studies from the Department of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Properties and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eastern Attica, following a prosecutor’s order. the identification of three church icons that had been stolen from another Monastery in the province in 2012.
From the thorough investigation in the monastery premises, the 3 wanted icons were located in the manor house and additionally 4 icons and wood-carved doors were found, which were identified as having been stolen years ago from monasteries and temples in the province.
The confiscated icons and other ecclesiastical objects were transferred to the headquarters of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eastern Attica and the competent archaeologists gave an opinion that they fall under the protective provisions of the legislation on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage in general.
As indicated in the relevant announcement, the Sub-Directorate for Environmental Protection, Property Rights and Cultural Heritage continues the research process on the method of acquisition and possession of the above objects.
ELAS announcement in detail
From the Department of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities of the Attica Security Directorate, 7 ecclesiastical icons and wood-carved doorposts of archaeological value were located inside a Holy Monastery in Attica.
In the morning hours of 31-10-2023, police officers of the above service, following a prosecutor’s order, organized and carried out a targeted investigation in a Monastery of Attica with the assistance of a team of archaeologists specializing in Byzantine Studies of the Department of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Properties and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eastern Attica for the identification of 3 church icons that had been stolen from another Monastery in the Province in 2012.
From the thorough investigation in the grounds of the Monastery, the 3 icons that were being sought were found in the mansion and additionally 4 icons and wood-carved doors were found, which were identified as having been stolen years ago from Monasteries and Temples in the province.
The confiscated icons and other ecclesiastical objects were transferred to the headquarters of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eastern Attica and the competent archaeologists gave an opinion that they fall under the protective provisions of the legislation on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage in general.
The Directorate of Environmental Protection, Property Rights and Cultural Heritage continues the investigation process on the manner of acquisition and possession of the above objects.
Tags: Church icons stolen monasteries churches province monastery Attica
