Feb 19, 2025 By Mike Jones 5 min read

The Greek Orthodox priest who stole $155,000 from his North Strabane church to feed a gambling habit told dozens of its members who packed the courtroom for his sentencing Tuesday that he felt “surrounded by a community that supports” him despite his actions.

George Athanasiou sat on the witness stand and apologized to the nearly 50 church leaders and members inside Washington County Judge Traci McDonald’s packed courtroom, telling them about his “deep sense of regret” with how his gambling addiction led to so much pain by someone who “once was a trusted leader” for them.

“My actions have affected so many, including the people in this courtroom,” he said. “There is a lot of trust I must regain. … It will take a lifetime to achieve.”

He then turned the spotlight onto his gambling addiction and how he has learned more about himself through counseling, while also hoping he could one day help others with similar problems. He added he was heartened by the show of support in the courtroom, with some members dabbing tears away as he and others spoke.

“Do I feel like I deserve it? Absolutely not,” Athanasiou said of the support.

Athanasiou, 38, of Cecil Township, pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to one felony theft charge after admitting to stealing $155,000 from All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in North Strabane between April 2022 and November 2023, when he was arrested and charged with more than 200 felony counts. Afterward, the church suspended him from his position as priest and it’s unclear whether he’ll be reinstated.

“I needed to be caught. I needed to be arrested,” he said. “I needed my dirty laundry to be held up for all the world to see so I could get treatment for my actions.”

As part of the plea deal with the state attorney general’s office, Athanasiou agreed to pay the church back all of the money before sentencing, which he did Tuesday morning through a restitution check from his defense attorney Patrick Morrisey using funds fronted by his parents that he is working to repay. However, he admitted it could take years to do since it has been difficult for him to find work with the theft plea now on his record. He told the judge he has been doing professional driving for his uncle and delivering newspapers for a media company in Pittsburgh.

While the plea deal allowed for McDonald to sentence Athanasiou to jail, she opted instead to have him serve 12 months on electronic home monitoring, along with five years on probation and 300 hours of community service.

“I want you to take your commitment and passion to help people in other ways,” McDonald said.

During the nearly one-hour long sentencing hearing, several people spoke on behalf of the man they still affectionately call “Father George” despite his suspension. The Rev. Dimitrios Kyritsis, senior priest at All Saints, said that Athanasiou has been undergoing counseling and working to repair the broken trust with the church and its members.

“We want to see all parties made whole. … He understands his road to recovery is a long one, but he understands his commitment to that. Many members have forgiven him and others are in the process of forgiving.”

Kyritsis said the church’s leaders asked Athanasiou to write an open letter to the community, while dozens of members wrote letters in support of him as part of the presentence investigation read by McDonald beforehand.

“It’s a blessing to forgive,” Kyritsis said.

Athanasiou sat at the defense table, wiping tears away with a tissue while his therapist, friends and members of the church spoke on his behalf as Thomassey walked over several times to place his hand on his client’s shoulder. While there was a large amount of support for Athanasiou during the sentencing, church leaders admitted that there has been no decision made yet on his future, which appeared to be dependent on Tuesday’s sentencing.

“Whether I remain a priest or not is out of my control,” Athanasiou told the judge.

Athanasiou has been suspended without pay since his arrest, although he has remained an active participant in another Greek Orthodox church where he was raised. He has been free on $250,000 unsecured bond since his arrest.

Athanasiou said he would like to help other gambling addicts change their lives and use his experience as a cautionary tale for them.

“If it could affect me, it could affect anybody,” he said.

Thomassey said that the outpouring of support for Athanasiou showed his character despite his transgressions.

“This is a good man, and he’ll make it right,” Thomassey said. “You have these parishioners, who are technically victims, who are here to support him.”

McDonald noted that sentiment during the sentencing.

“I think they gave a comprehensive view of his childhood, his upbringing and his service,” the judge said.