Greek Police Arrest Priest for Treasure Hunting in Own Church

Greek police arrested a village priest on charges of treasure hunting in his own church.

The 53-year-old priest and a 57-year-old church elder were arrested in the village of Fyska in the northern prefecture of Kilkis for contravening the antiquities law, according to a statement today on the police website.

Police found a 2-meter-deep (6 1/2-foot), 1-meter-wide hole behind the church altar as well as sacks of earth and digging tools. They are searching for four other people in connection with the matter, according to the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Tugwell in Athens at ptugwell1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jerrold Colten at jcolten@bloomberg.net