The fallout from the dismissal of Metropolitan Tychikos from the Paphos Metropolis continues to deepen, with public backlash, institutional criticism, and theological debate now dominating headlines.
On Thursday, the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus decided by majority vote to remove Tychikos from his position as Bishop of Paphos, following a string of serious allegations. He will remain a bishop and member of the Holy Synod, but has been placed at the Church’s disposal and must submit a written Confession of Faith that includes a clear condemnation of “walling off” (the rejection of communion with other Orthodox churches).
Three major charges and widespread complaints
According to the Church’s official statement, the Synod was acting not only on its own concerns but in response to formal complaints from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Greece, and even the Greek Government. These included correspondence from the Ministry of Education and direct representations to the Cypriot government by the Greek ambassador in Athens.
The three main accusations against Tychikos were:
- Illegitimate ordinations: He allegedly ordained a member of a fringe Thessaloniki-based group that had broken communion with the Orthodox Church and sent them to serve in Greece.
- Violation of marriage and sacramental rules: He reportedly refused to perform mixed marriages between Orthodox and other baptised Christians, and rejected valid Orthodox baptism and chrismation certificates from other canonical churches.
- Improper chapel dedication: He inaugurated a chapel in honour of a cleric who is not recognised as a saint by the Orthodox Church.
The Synod also noted other administrative shortcomings and accused him of failing to respect Church statutes despite repeated warnings.
The Archbishop’s response
In a detailed interview, Archbishop Georgios defended the decision, stating the matter was not personal or political, but essential to preserving the unity and credibility of the Church.
“This was not a matter of opinion — the reasons were extremely serious,” he said. “We had to protect the Church’s relationships with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other Orthodox churches.”
He emphasised that Tychikos had been given multiple opportunities to clarify and correct his actions but failed to satisfy the Synod. In particular, his involvement with fringe groups and his refusal to respect synodal decisions were seen as violations of Orthodox ecclesiology.
Public backlash in Paphos
The decision sparked immediate backlash among the faithful in Paphos, where Tychikos remains widely popular. Crowds gathered outside the Metropolis building in support, shouting “Axios!” as the former bishop left the premises.
Local figures such as Andreas Sikkis, Vice Mayor of Geroskipou and a newly elected member of the Paphos Throne Committee, called the Synod’s decision a “black mark” on Church history and demanded its reversal.
Accusations of double standards
Theologian Theodoros Kyriakou criticised the Synod for what he called “double standards”, pointing to the case of Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou, who has not been similarly disciplined despite past controversies.
Kyriakou argued that Morphou’s actions — including controversial statements about homosexuality, the Pope, and the pandemic — were comparable or more severe than those attributed to Tychikos, yet the Church leadership has not acted against him.
Tychikos responds: “I asked for a second chance”
In a brief statement to supporters, Tychikos said he accepted the Synod’s decision but felt he had not been given a true opportunity to redeem himself. “I respect the Synod’s decision. I may have made mistakes- I asked for forgiveness,” he said.
The Synod has appointed Archbishop Georgios as temporary administrator of the Paphos diocese while a permanent replacement is considered. More developments are expected as public pressure mounts and internal Church debates continue.
Also read: Holy Synod removes Bishop Tychikos from Paphos post
