An Athens court prosecutor has recommended Father Antonios Papanikolaou, founder of the Ark of the World charity, be convicted on five misdemeanor counts of physical abuse of children.
The prosecutor’s report argued there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges, with incidents involving multiple victims, one under 14 years old and another over 14. These charges stem from repeated allegations of abuse on the charity’s premises. “The word of the father was law,” said the prosecutor, “nothing happened without his orders, as the children said and the workers confirmed.” The court’s final ruling is expected in early November.
This misdemeanor case is just one of several trials the priest is currently embroiled in.
In addition to the misdemeanor charges, Father Antonios is confronting more severe accusations, including felony charges of child sexual abuse. Several children who had been housed in the organization’s facilities reported abuse. According to the judges on the case, Father Antonios, “took advantage of his dominant position in the operation of the ‘Ark’, the trust placed in him by the children and his priestly status, acted with a common pattern of criminal behavior and with an identical way of approaching minors, and committed sexual acts against minors”.
Furthermore, Father Antonios is under investigation for forgery and financial misconduct, with allegations that he embezzled significant sums of money. These funds are said to have been linked to unexplained property acquisitions and renovations tied to the charity. The organization once received around 5 million euros annually in donations, and has shelters in Epirus, Athens, Chios, Volos, and Kalamata.
During his appearance before the 9th Tripartite Criminal Court of Athens in late September, Father Antonios dismissed the allegations of embezzlement, asserting that his role in the organization was not administrative. He additionally denied accusations of forced labor or maltreatment, maintaining that such actions were contrary to his values.
An investigation by the Greek Ombudsman in April revealed that arbitrary and harmful practices were imposed on children who were hosted in the Ark of the World structures. The investigation concluded that the founder of the charity, Father Antonios, played a central role in decision-making, and his strong public image and influence allowed the Ark to operate without adequate oversight from state bodies. Despite serious issues identified, the investigation found state audits failed to address these issues, largely due to the lack of an institutional framework for private child protection units. The report concluded that the lack of regulations led to a system of mistreatment, and called for reforms to establish proper governance, enhance oversight, and involve children in decisions affecting them.
