Ellinika Hoaxes’ Editor-in-Chief acquitted by unanimous decision over investigation behind the litigation of the Holy Fire

Athens – Dimitris Alikakos, Ellinika Hoaxes editor-in-chief, has been acquitted by a unanimous decision of the three-member Misdemeanor Court of Athens following his investigation surrounding the ‘miraculous’ litigation of the Holy Fire.

In March 2019, Alikakos published his book ‘Redemption – The Case of the Holy Fire’, which shed light on the alleged miraculous origins of the Holy Fire, a belief perpetuated for centuries. In the book, he presented testimonies from the Sacristan and Abbot of the Holy Sepulchre, Archbishop Isidore, who admitted that he had ignited the Holy Fire inside the Holy Sepulchre using a lighter.

In response to the publication, the Jerusalem Patriarchate, along with Archbishops Isidore and Aristarchus who servers as the Patriarchate’s Secretary-General, filed a civil lawsuit against the author and against the publisher of the book seeking 700.000 euros as compensation for moral damages. In January of 2021, the two Archbishops pressed criminal charges against Alikakos. They alleged that his book disseminated falsehoods and that he acquired their testimonies unlawfully and without adhering to the journalistic values.

Alikakos, however, has countered these claims by releasing a video in which Archbishop Isidore admits to igniting the Holy Fire upon entering the Holy Sepulchre before the Patriarch’s arrival.

Previously, Isidore had sued Google Ireland Ltd demanding that Alikakos’ video be deleted from YouTube platform claiming that not only it insults his honor and reputation but also it was published without his consent.

In late 2022, the three-member Misdemeanor Court of Athens ruled in favor of Google Ireland Ltd, awarding the legal costs against Isidore, because he is seen during the video recording, asking ‘shall we say it on camera?’, indicating that he was aware that he was being filmed.

The trial

After nearly five years of legal proceedings and three postponements, Alikakos stood trial for defamation, violation of confidentiality of oral conversations, and personal data violations, for the methods he used.

The trial commenced on March 20, 2024, but was adjourned after the first day of proceedings. It resumed on March 29, 2024, ultimately leading to the unanimous decision in Alikakos’ favor.

Ellinika Hoaxes’ Editor-in-Chief statement:

“It was the most challenging fact-checking endeavor of my career, disproving an eleven-century-old claim widely disseminated to millions. My investigation aimed not at challenging religious beliefs, but rather the claim – propagated through the official website of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem – that the Holy Fire is miraculously ignited annually. I was able to conclusively demonstrate its natural, human-initiated origin. Greek judicial authorities affirmed the accuracy and integrity of my investigation, dismissing any allegations of falsehood or slander against the Archbishops involved, particularly the one who openly admitted to using a lighter to ignite the Holy Fire. This legal outcome marks a triumph for investigative journalism and a decisive debunk to a centuries-old falsehood.”