Stamatia Georgianti, the wife of Father Antonios Papanikolaou, and his mother, Despina Papanikolaou, had filed a petition with the Supreme Court to regain control, as sole partners, of the children’s charity “Kivotos tou Kosmou” (Ark of the World), which the convicted priest headed after establishing in 1998.
Last week, the 54-year-old Father Antonios was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, converted into a financial penalty, after being found guilty by an Athens court of multiple counts of physical abuse against children under his care.
Four former employees of the charity also received sentences, most of which were suspended pending appeals.
In addition, early this year, Father Antonios and his wife were charged with financial misconduct following months of investigation into the financial management of the organization.
A temporary administration was appointed in November, 2022, based on a decision by the Labor Ministry. This appointment was extended last November by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, prompting the convicted priest’s wife and mother to file the Supreme Court petition.
The court ruled that appointing a provisional administration is necessary for public interest, ensuring proper care for beneficiaries and fulfilling the state’s duty to protect children and youth.