Antique Dealer Selling 18th-Century Gospel on TikTok | Greece

A raid by Greek authorities on a gallery owned by a well-known antiques dealer took place Friday afternoon in the Hellenikon area, following the discovery of a video posted on TikTok advertising the sale of an 18th-century Gospel.

Police from the Organized Crime Unit conducted the raid and are currently investigating the businessman’s operations, including a television present where he sells antique items, according to reports from ERT. The TikTok video prompted immediate intervention to halt the sale and seize the religious text. The Gospel has been transferred for evaluation by experts to determine its authenticity and age.

During the search of a warehouse behind the gallery in Hellenikon, officers discovered more than 300 counterfeit paintings, as well as significant sums of money, leading to further searches of the dealer’s other stores, according to reports from Typos Theses. The dealer, whose name has not been officially released, is known in Greece for his appearances on television programs specializing in the sale of antiques.

The operation, dubbed the “Greek FBI” by some Greek media outlets, comes as authorities crack down on the illicit trade of antiquities. According to Efsyn, the discovery of the fraudulent paintings effectively “incinerated” the dealer’s reputation. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been announced as of Friday evening.