Through a related communiqué, the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus clearly sets out the conditions under which the ecclesiastical sanction imposed on the deposed former Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos may be lifted.
The Synod requires specific and tangible actions from him concerning his stance toward the Church and the Holy Canons, as well as his conduct toward the ecclesiastical body.
The Synod’s objective is to restore canonical order, safeguard the unity of the Church, and cease actions that cause unrest and scandal among the faithful.
The relevant communiqué follows:
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus convened in an extraordinary session under the presidency of His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios. The Synod examined the case of the deposed former Metropolitan of Paphos, Tychikos, in depth. This examination followed the unanimous ratification of the Synod’s decision, taken at its session on May 23, 2025, by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Holy Synod took into account the former Metropolitan’s refusal to comply with the conditions set by the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, as well as the relevant exhortations of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Holy Synod also examined his unacceptable actions from the standpoint of ecclesiastical ethos in seeking recourse to the civil courts, an act condemned by the Holy Canons.
It reviewed the disturbances he caused among the faithful through his statements and a small group of “zealots.”
The review noted his attempt to create divisions among the members of the Holy Synod by addressing those who supported him and those who supported his deposition in different terms.
- submits the specific Confession of Faith requested by the Holy Synod;
- withdraws his legal appeal or his intention to appeal to the civil courts.
- condemns apoteichismos (separation from the Church);
- accepts new duties within the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, as assigned by the Archbishop of Cyprus.
- ceases actions that cause unrest and scandal within the Church.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
