Sometimes life holds tragic coincidences, as in the case of Father Lambros Rini, whose daughter was murdered in Larissa by her own son and his grandson, on the night of Monday, May 12

The priest, who 27 years ago was in the spotlight for exposing a major financial scandal, is now facing an unthinkable family tragedy. This tragic development adds to a series of family “blows,” as two years ago, Father Lambros lost his eldest daughter to a stroke at age 52, leaving behind two orphaned children whom he is raising with his wife, according to onlarissa.gr.

The scandal revelation
Father Lambros’s story became widely known in 1997 when he decided to reveal a major financial scandal on the program “Kitrinos Typos” hosted by Makis Triantafyllopoulos. The case involved embezzlement of funds from the donation box of the historic pilgrimage site of Holy Paraskevi in Tempi. The priest suspected that the money left by worshippers for the church was not reaching the intended place, so he installed a hidden camera in the church, recording daily thefts by members of the committee overseeing the donations.

The scandal was first exposed in November 1997, shocking public opinion and highlighting corruption at one of the country’s most famous pilgrimage sites. Investigations revealed that committee members—including an OSE employee, a retired military officer, and two priests—were stealing large sums daily from the donation box, estimated at around 45 million drachmas. The scandal grew in scope, with judicial proceedings lasting until 2007.

Kitrinos Typos, 20/06/1999, Part 9

“Who would have thought that my own grandson would kill his own mother?”
The father of the 52-year-old woman murdered by her own son describes what happened in Larissa as “unimaginable.”

The priest told protothema.gr: “I don’t have anger inside me, but great sorrow… Great sorrow for my daughter who was lost unjustly and for my grandson, who ended up becoming a mother-killer.”

He says that “the child never showed any signs of wanting to kill his mother. I don’t know what happened between them, and he grabbed a knife to commit the crime… Who would have thought that my own grandson would kill his own mother? It’s unimaginable, I can’t believe it.”

He adds, “I haven’t spoken to him because the police still won’t let us see him.” The even more tragic aspect for this man is that two years ago, he lost his other daughter to a stroke at age 52 as well.

“I lost my other daughter in the worst way. Two years ago, my other daughter died of a stroke, leaving behind two orphaned children. She was also 52. I can’t endure these blows of fate anymore. How can I bear such immense pain…” concludes the tragic father and grandfather.