Evangelia Poula, the woman repeatedly described in media as the lawyer of deposed Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos, clarified her position during a television interview.
She stated that she has never been Tychikos’ lawyer and has no professional relationship with him whatsoever. She speaks only as a lay member of a wider support group that formed after his removal from office on 22 May 2025.
Poula expressed surprise and disappointment when the Metropolitan publicly distanced himself from her statements, declaring that they do not represent him. She insisted that the press release issued in his name was clearly drafted by third parties, pointing to the misspelling of her surname as evidence that Tychikos himself did not write it, since he knows the correct spelling.
She maintained that her positions on mixed marriages, recognition of heterodox baptism and the 2016 Crete Council are purely patristic, rooted in Holy Scripture, the Sacred Canons and the Church of Cyprus constitution. She believes Tychikos shared the view that the Church of Cyprus has departed from patristic tradition on these matters.
Poula warned that if the Metropolitan returns to Cyprus and signs the “Confession of Faith” demanded by the Archbishop, which accepts the Crete Council, she and the majority of his current supporters will withdraw their backing. She respects his personal choices but said such a move would end her support.
She denied any knowledge of individuals “guiding” Tychikos and stressed she had almost no personal contact with him before the crisis.
She also criticised a recent two-hour video by Evangelos Papanikolaou as self-centred and outside the Orthodox spirit.
Poula concluded that she never sought publicity but felt forced to speak because “a time-bomb has been dropped on Orthodox texts” and called on the faithful to examine the theological issues she has raised in depth.
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