Metropolitan Tychikos sends a confession of faith to Synod of Cyprus

Metropolitan Tychikos. Photo: pafoslive.com.cy

On January 7, 2026, the Greek-language UOJ site published the full text of a letter from Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos, which he had sent to the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Orthodox Church.

Among other things, the document contains a confession of faith – which the Synod of the Church of Cyprus had demanded from Metropolitan Tychikos in May of last year.

In response to that requirement, the hierarch writes that he recognizes “the force and spirit of the Apostolic Canons and the sacred canons of the holy and seven Ecumenical Councils of the Orthodox Church, and of the local councils, which I have received for the defense of the Church’s Orthodox dogmas.”

“I confess everything set forth by the Holy Councils under the action of the enlightening grace of the Most Holy Spirit as the conditions of true faith, as well as the sacred canons which the holy fathers composed and handed down to the Church for the ordering of moral life in accordance with apostolic traditions and the spirit of the evangelical divine teaching,” the hierarch continues.

He condemned “every heresy which the Orthodox Church condemns,” and declared his commitment to “the defense of the dogmas of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”

“I bring to your attention that I have never conceived of, nor committed, a cessation of the commemoration of the name of Archbishop George of Cyprus and of our Holy Hierarchy in the divine services; in response to the accusations made against me of ‘ceasing commemoration,’ I state that I have never deliberately or knowingly accepted, encouraged, or in any way contributed to anyone leaving the clergy of the Orthodox Church or ceasing commemoration of the primate of any Orthodox Church or of his ecclesiastical authority,” Metropolitan Tychikos writes, emphasizing that “judgment concerning heresies, schisms, and false teachings belongs to the Council of Orthodoxy.”

He continues that “these matters are expressed, examined, and decided exclusively in a conciliar manner throughout the entire history of the Orthodox Church. Thus, the Holy Ecumenical Councils formulated the Symbol of Faith and established the struggle against all heresies.”

The metropolitan noted that “all the Ecumenical Councils were called Ecumenical because they were accepted by the conscience of the church people, for whom the Church exists – for whom Christ died and rose again.”

He then speaks of the Ecumenical Councils and the local councils whose decisions he receives concerning Orthodox dogma: “What you all confess, Orthodox Christians, brothers and fellow-serving bishops, I also confess, keep, and carry out – the dogmas, the Mysteries, in the Holy Spirit, in the Spirit of truth, as the holy fathers of the Orthodox Church delivered them to us.”

“I confess one God, one Gospel, one Church – the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I ask, day and night, that the holy mercy of God would cover the whole world,” Metropolitan Tychikos wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Tychikos had returned to Cyprus and declared his readiness to participate in the Synod.

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