Former priest of Buffalo’s Greek Orthodox church charged with stealing funds

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The former chief of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Buffalo is dealing with federal financial institution fraud expenses, accused of stealing roughly $450,000 from his congregation.

Father Christos Christakis appeared in Buffalo federal court docket on Wednesday. Federal prosecutors accuse him of embezzling cash, funds they are saying he used to assist his household’s life-style.

Christakis had no remark as I adopted him out of the federal courthouse along with his legal professional, Terrance Connors.

“Father, how are you feeling about these charges against you?” I requested with no response from the priest. “Did you expect to be charged?” I questioned with no reply as he walked down the courthouse steps to Delaware Avenue.

WATCH: Former priest of Buffalo’s Greek Orthodox church charged with stealing funds

Former priest of Buffalo’s Greek Orthodox church charged with stealing funds

Investigators say Christakis modified the church’s guidelines in 2011, giving him full management over the priest’s discretionary fund.

A federal criticism states the priest “appeared to be living a lavish lifestyle” and that it was “inconsistent with his salary from the church.”

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The criticism additionally states that his household of six took “regular extravagant first-class vacations to London, Greece and Paris” and that the priest and his partner drove luxurious autos, together with Teslas, a BMW and a Mercedes.

A whistleblower filed a criticism in March 2025. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America then started its personal investigation, throughout which Christakis admitted to utilizing church cash for himself between 2018 and 2025.

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“Any message for your former parishioners?” I questioned as Christakis walked throughout the road, however there was no response.

Christakis had been serving on the church since 2007, however was fired final June when the church started its investigation.

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The new chief of the church, Father Paul Patitsas, was current on the court docket proceedings. He declined to take questions however learn an announcement on behalf of the church.

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“This is obviously a very sorrowful time for all of us at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Buffalo,” Patitsas learn. “We also extended our compassion to Father Christakis and his family…I’m sure they are sorrowing as well. And we ask God’s healing on him and his family…and on our entire parish community – and we pray to move forward from this very deep wound.”

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is situated at Delaware and West Utica in Buffalo.

If convicted, Christakis faces as much as 30 years in jail and a attainable $1 million wonderful. He is due again in court docket on August 26.

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