The charges were “Rebuilding in a Reforestable Area.”
Their monastery was built 100 years ago, long before their arrival. A part of the forest was burned and the whole area was officially declared as “reforestable.”
The Court was aware that the two monks were not responsible for the situation.
Nevertheless, the report of the forestry office acknowledged of “infrastructure used for breeding (corral).” It was a necessary activity for living in the monastery.
The two monks testified that the corral was constructed by other monks who lived in the monastery in the past and who now have departed. They admitted though that they had made some minor repairs, so that the roof would not collapse, so the animals could stay warm during the winter.
The District Attorney argued that “minor repairs” were activities punishable by the Law, concluding that the monks should be declared as “guilty”.
Hearing these words, the monks reacted as if they had been stroke by thunder.
On our defense speech, we pointed out that a recent amendment of the forest legislation permitted activities such as breeding in the forest, as well as building a temple or a monastery inside a forest, across the Greek territory.
The Judges made an emergency pause of the session.
They returned after quite some time.
While the judges were taking their seats, the tension in the room was torturous.
The President of The Court delivered the Judgment:
“The defendants are found not guilty.”
The whole room sighed in relief.
The two monks returned to their monastery and now remember all this as a distant memory.
It was a case that we will long remember for the high tension, high stakes, as well as for the liberating feeling of relief in the end.
