A priest in Thessaloniki has been convicted of repeated domestic threats against his wife, committed in the presence of one of their three minor children. The incident, which the case file confirms took place with the child present, resulted in an 18-month prison sentence handed down by the Single-Member Misdemeanor Court of Thessaloniki.
The priest was found guilty of ongoing domestic threats with no mitigating circumstances recognized. The sentence was converted to a fine of ten euros per day, with suspension until the appeal stage. He was also issued a restraining order prohibiting him from coming within 50 meters of the victim.
The 46-year-old woman testified that she had been a victim of abusive behavior for years, describing a pattern of insults, threats, and physical violence. In her testimony, she stated that the priest threatened her on two consecutive days, telling her “you’re done” while making a slashing gesture across his throat with a key, in the presence of their child, causing her to fear for her life.
The priest’s wife described the nightmare she said she had endured during the final years of their marriage, stating that she had also been a victim of rape. This specific allegation of sexual abuse is now being investigated by the relevant authorities following her testimony in court today.
“I Am the Victim”
In his defense, the priest denied all the allegations and claimed that he was, in fact, the real victim. He argued that his wife had filed the complaint as an act of revenge after he cut off her debit card and stopped giving her money.
“This whole thing is about money. All these years the money was managed by my wife, who never cooked and always ordered takeout. She never put a pot on the stove. She bought expensive clothes and shoes, and as a result I ended up deeply in debt,” he said, adding that he worked every day at the church and had trusted his wife completely.
The priest maintained that he never threatened his wife and offered his own version of events. He said he had gone to her home to drop off the children’s school records and told her “as far as I’m concerned, you’re done,” meaning, he claimed, that they would be proceeding with a divorce. He denied making any threatening gesture or using any form of violence.
“Two weeks ago I cut off her card. Because she had grown accustomed to financial comfort, I believe she filed the complaint to get back at me. I never threatened her or subjected her or the children to any form of psychological violence,” he concluded.
The prosecutor recommended conviction, noting that the trial proceedings had established that the alleged acts did take place, and that they occurred in the presence of the minor children.
Following the filing of criminal charges, the relevant Diocese to which the priest belongs was notified.
