Metropolitan Tychikos seeks court-ordered return to Paphos See

Metropolitan Tychikos. Photo: UOJ

In January 2026, Metropolitan Tychikos announced his intention to apply to the civil courts of the Republic of Cyprus, demanding that he be reinstated as the ruling hierarch of the Paphos Metropolis. This was reported by UOJ in Greece.

As the outlet notes, Metropolitan Tychikos sent a corresponding letter to the synodal hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus, stating that he considers the decisions taken against him unlawful and intends to pursue the protection of his rights through legal means.

It should be noted that Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus has sent the metropolitans invitations to a session of the Holy Synod to be held on Thursday, January 8. The agenda includes discussion of the situation surrounding the Paphos Metropolis, as well as possible amendments to the Charter of the Church of Cyprus.

Under the current Charter, when a metropolitan see is vacant, a popular vote is held to form a triprosopon – a list of three candidates from which the Holy Synod elects the new hierarch. According to available information, the Archbishop intends to propose abolishing this procedure and transferring the right to elect metropolitans exclusively to the Synod, without lay participation.

Earlier, the UOJ quoted Archbishop Georgios as describing Metropolitan Tychikos’s removal as “healing fanaticism.”

Read also