The Six-Member Synodal Court of the Church of Cyprus has unanimously decided to defrock Father Dimos Serkelidis, a cleric of the Holy Metropolis of Paphos.
According to an official announcement issued by the Secretariat of the Synodal Court, the Court convened under the presidency of Metropolitan Nektarios of Kition, alongside Metropolitans Athanasios of Limassol, Isaias of Tamasos, Barnabas of Trimythous, and Bishops Christoforos of Karpassia and Pagratios of Arsinou, heard the case against Father Serkelidis on Wednesday at the Small Synodal Hall of the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus.
After reviewing the charges, attentively considering the prosecution’s arguments and the defendant’s defense, the Court found Father Serkelidis guilty. It then unanimously ruled to defrock and to return him to the ranks of the laity.
This decision was made “in accordance with the Divine and Holy Canons of the Orthodox Church and the provisions of the Statutory Charter of the Church of Cyprus.”
The background of the decision
A cleric has reportedly filed a formal complaint against Archbishop George of Cyprus with the Secretariat of the Archdiocese, accusing the Archbishop of ecclesiastical crimes warranting defrocking. According to the priest’s claim, the Secretariat has refused to officially receive the complaint since June 6.
In his complaint, the priest challenges the legality of a six-month suspension imposed on him under the Archbishop’s presidency and questions why the Synod Secretariat is delaying or refusing to register his grievances. He asked publicly, “If all was done properly in my case and the Archbishop is blameless, then what is the problem?” He also stated his intention to share the complaint with all Synodal members to ensure no one can claim ignorance.
Sources within the Archdiocese neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, emphasizing that procedural processes must be allowed to conclude before any official statements are made. This cautious stance aligns with the Archbishop’s call to reduce tensions concerning the former Metropolitan Tychikos’s case.
Given that the case involving Father Dimos Serkelidis is closely connected with Metropolitan Tychikos’s situation, the Archdiocese is maintaining a similar reserved tone.
In a recent video, the priest questioned the definitions of “schism,” “heresy,” and “extreme zealotry” as used in his case and urged the Archdiocese to clarify its position. Citing saints who spoke on similar matters, he argued that zeal is not necessarily a sin.
He further stated, “The boundaries of the Church are not defined by the current Holy Synod but by doctrines and canons. The Church’s borders are not guarded by the military, but the military must protect the Church’s borders.”
At one point, the priest warned of an “ecclesiastical 1974 coup,” referring to the suspension of Metropolitan Tychikos and the alleged distortion of sacred canons and the Church’s charter. He implored the Holy Synod to correct its course, warning, “After a coup comes an invasion.”
The decision of the Church of Cpyrus in Greek:
Sources: sigmalive.com / reporter.com.cy
