He is required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, return the $155,000 he embezzled from the Community, and complete 300 hours of community service. On the day of his sentencing, he repaid the stolen funds.
Father Athanasiou admitted in court that he had stolen money from the community to gamble and spoke about his addiction. He is currently undergoing psychological counseling.
The 38-year-old priest pleaded guilty in November 2024 to stealing $155,000 between April 2022 and November 2023.
His sentencing took place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, lasting nearly an hour in a courtroom packed with Greek Orthodox believers, including members of the All-Saints parish in Canonsburg. Many attendees expressed support for him despite his conviction, including fellow clergy members.
The National Herald had extensively covered Fr. Athanasiou’s case on November 30, 2023, one day after his arrest by police on November 29. The news was initially reported by CBS Pittsburgh.
Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh acted swiftly, immediately suspending Fr. Athanasiou from all priestly duties. In a letter dated November 29, 2023, addressed to the community’s head priest, Father Dimitrios Kyritsis, the Parish Council, and the community members, Metropolitan Savas informed them of the suspension.
He wrote, among other things, “You may have heard that your beloved assistant priest, Father Georgios Athanasiou, was arrested today and charged with embezzling community funds.”
The arrest followed an internal investigation initiated by community leaders who discovered financial irregularities in contributions. They reported their findings to the authorities, leading to the police investigation and subsequent arrest.
In his letter, Metropolitan Savas further stated, “the justice system will do its job, but we have taken the following measures: Fr. Georgios has been suspended from his priestly duties until the legal process is complete.
During this period, he will be unpaid, and all his liturgical and sacramental responsibilities are suspended. The Metropolis and the community will fully cooperate with the authorities as they investigate the extent of the theft, including its duration and total amount.”
According to the report and authorities, the theft occurred through checks donated by parishioners intended for community support or via ATMs. Fr. Athanasiou signed checks meant for the community, deposited them into his own account, and withdrew cash from ATMs.
Detectives found bank records indicating that between April 2022 and November 2023, Father Athanasiou made 220 ATM cash withdrawals totaling $117,000.
During a search of his apartment, police discovered the card he used for ATM withdrawals. Authorities stated that Father Athanasiou admitted to stealing the money due to personal difficulties.
Fr. Athanasiou is under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, led by Metropolitan Savas.
Under church law and regulations, he will face a spiritual tribunal within the Metropolis, which will then refer his case to the Holy Eparchial Synod in the United States.
The Synod will decide whether he will remain a clergyman or be referred to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for defrocking and return to lay status.