Cypriot MP demands explanations from Greece over letter against Paphos bishop

Nikolaos Papadopoulos. Photo: brief

Cypriot MP Nikolaos Papadopoulos has filed an official request to the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports of Greece, demanding clarification over interference in the internal affairs of the Church of Cyprus. The UOJ obtained a copy of the politician’s letter.

The reason for the appeal was the announcement of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus on November 27, 2024, stating that the Greek Minister of Education had sent a letter demanding either the resignation of the Metropolitan of Paphos or the transfer of his case to the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the official statement on the Holy Synod’s website, the Primate of the Church of Cyprus received a letter from the Greek Minister of Education in which “the Government of Greece demands from the Church of Cyprus, through His Beatitude, the resignation of His Eminence Metropolitan of Paphos.”

Papadopoulos considers such interference unacceptable, noting that “for the first time, the question arises of a third party (the government) interfering” in church affairs. According to him, such actions by a state official without the appropriate authority constitute “a serious violation.”

In his official request, the MP demands that the Greek minister answer three key questions: whether he confirms his interference in the church affairs of the Church of Cyprus, what authority he possesses in relation to the church of another state, and what the content of the letter was.

Papadopoulos emphasized that the decision of the Holy Synod of Cyprus “has caused concern among a large part of the faithful in Greece and Cyprus,” and that interference by secular authorities in ecclesiastical matters is unacceptable.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Synod of the Church of Constantinople had invited Metropolitan Tychikos to a meeting.

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