Church of Cyprus Synod suspends Metropolitan Tychikos from ministry

Synod of the Church of Cyprus. Photo: philenews.com

On January 8, 2026, the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Orthodox Church resolved to prohibit Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos from exercising the priestly ministry for an indefinite period, philenews.com reports.

The decision was taken after the hierarch refused to sign the required “confession of faith” – a document which the Synod regarded as a condition for Metropolitan Tychikos to be able to continue serving as a bishop, but on another see.

According to a representative of the Holy Synod, the session, chaired by Archbishop George of Cyprus, decided to impose on Metropolitan Tychikos a penalty in the form of an open-ended suspension from ministry. This measure will remain in force until the hierarch fully accepts the Synod’s conditions.

The Synod also said that its work has not been completed due to the large number of issues, and the session will continue next Wednesday.

As the statement details, the document that Metropolitan Tychikos sent to the Synod was found unsatisfactory because it did not contain key points that the Synod members had specified to him in advance.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Tychikos had sent a confession of faith to the Synod of Cyprus.

Read also

Georgian Church Synod to present three candidates for Patriarchal throne

Georgian hierarchs will select candidates for the Patriarchal throne, after which the Extended Council will make the final decision.

Metropolitan Tychikos' lawyers respond to media accusations

The hierarch's lawyers called the television stories targeted harassment.

EU Court: Hungary's law protecting children from LGBT violates legislation

The European Court ruled that Hungary's ban on promoting LGBT ideology among minors contradicts "EU values".

Facts of persecution against UOC included in world's human rights report

The Amnesty International report points to pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and criticism from UN experts.

Pasika activist urges believers to join Uniates if they don't want to go to OCU

Choknadiy called on UOC believers to join the Greek Catholic Church, since they refuse to join the OCU.

OCU “priest” urges SBU to punish local community head for backing UOC faithful

Volodymyr Pedko was outraged that a fallen serviceman was buried by a cleric of the canonical Church and promised to “sort things out” with the local authorities after the holidays.