George Tsangarakis, a well-known art dealer in Greece, is scheduled to appear before a prosecutor at the courts of the former Evgenides School on Saturday afternoon (March 21), following his arrest under the Greek Antiquities and Cultural Heritage law. The arrest, carried out by officials from the Greek equivalent of the FBI, occurred after a social media video surfaced in which Tsangarakis was promoting the sale of an old Gospel dating back to the 18th century (1745). The item in question has been seized and is currently being examined by experts, who have deemed it authentic but of unknown provenance.

The charges against Tsangarakis are serious, including forgery and antiquities trafficking. Notably, investigations into his activities began a month and a half ago after a report raised questions about the authenticity of several artworks at his gallery. The investigation has revealed deeper issues within the art market in Greece, particularly regarding how cultural artifacts are handled and the potential for illicit sales in an industry that is often fraught with forgery. The case raises significant concerns about the protection of Greece's cultural heritage and the legal frameworks governing antiquities.

The seizure of the Gospel, valued at over 200,000 euros, comes amid a broader scrutiny of art dealers in the region, especially those operating under ambiguous regulations surrounding cultural artifacts. As the investigation unfolds, it will be crucial to ascertain the origins of the seized Gospel and the implications it holds for both Tsangarakis’s future and the cultural integrity of Greece's antiquity market.