Mount Athos Vatopedi Monastery abbot Ephraim, held in custody as a suspects in the controversial land swap case involving the Greek state and the monastery, on Monday filed a petition requesting to be released, citing health reasons.

He also repeated that he is innocent of the accusations against him.

Abbot Ephraim has been in custody since December 23 last year following a ruling by the Council of Court of Appeals Judges that intervened to settle a disagreement between the examining judge and the responsible prosecutor on whether he should be held on remand pending trial.