Efraim, the former chief monk at Vatopedi Monastery who was arrested on Friday over his involvement in a controversial government land-swap deal, is to be transferred to a Thessaloniki hospital on Tuesday.

The abbot was permitted to remain in custody in his monastic cell on Mount Athos after claiming to be suffering from a fever and high blood pressure. He received a preliminary checkup on Saturday by a medical examiner accompanying the Thessaloniki prosecutor executing the arrest warrant.

The head of the Karyon Health Center in Thessaloniki, Constantinos Dokouslis, said on Monday that he expected Ephraim to be well enough to be taken to the hospital today.

Ephraim has been accused of money laundering and embezzlement in connection with the land exchange deal.