Today, the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus is convening in an extraordinary session.
They are expected to address the issue of Bishop Tychikos and the amendments to the Church’s Statute. They will also discuss complaints relating to the monks who had been residing at the Monastery of Avvakoum.
On Wednesday, Archbishop Georgios said that Bishop Tychikos’ recourse to the civil courts is a “new serious development” and is “outside the practice of the Church.”
Christakis Efstathiou, the press representative of the Church of Cyprus, explained to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that Bishop Tychikos created a new set of circumstances through his written notification to the Holy Synod. In the notification, Bishop Tychikos makes known his intention to resort to the civil courts, claiming the Metropolis of Paphos.
Mr. Efstathiou said that the issue of Bishop Tychikos’s disobedience to the decisions of both the Holy Synod and the Ecumenical Patriarchate has arisen, triggered by his appeal to a civil court.
“With Thursday’s decision,” he continued, “the chapter of Bishop Tychikos will also be closed,” stressing that the Church of Cyprus does not base its actions and decisions on civil courts.
During the Holy Synod session, changes and improvements to the Church’s Statutory Charter are expected to be discussed. These changes aim to address identified weaknesses and lack of flexibility in handling certain matters, enabling the Synod to make more flexible decisions, including those related to justice administration.
Specifically, the Archbishop of Cyprus is expected to submit a proposal concerning the electoral process so that Bishops and Metropolitans are elected exclusively by the Holy Synod, without the involvement of the laity. The proposal would bypass the stage at which the public participates in voting to produce the three-candidate shortlist.
The Holy Synod will also address the issue of the monks residing at the Monastery of Avvakoum. According to Mr. Efstathiou, there are allegations that the monks perform liturgical services and administer sacraments that only ordained clergy can perform, despite having been deposed from the priesthood.
Source: Cyprus News Agency (CNA)
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
