Cyprus archbishop demands that Metropolitan Tychikos leave eparchy building

Metropolitan Tychikos and Archbishop Georgios. Photo: philenews.com

According to Cypriot media, Archbishop Georgios stated that if, by 10:00 a.m. on January 29, 2026, Metropolitan Tychikos does not hand over the keys to the room in the building of the Metropolis of Paphos where he is residing, then at 12:00 noon that room will be forcibly opened with police assistance.

Media reports claim that this decision was taken after the legal representatives of Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos stated that he had already handed over the premises and the keys to the metropolis – which, according to the Archbishop, is not true.

As philenews reports, the Primate of the Church of Cyprus sent Metropolitan Tychikos an official letter in which he offered him the opportunity to be personally present during the opening of the premises, should he deem it necessary.

According to available information, Archbishop Georgios had expected until yesterday that Metropolitan Tychikos would “voluntarily” appear and hand over the keys to the Metropolis, despite repeated warnings. This did not happen, after which it was decided to take harsher measures.

In the Archbishop of Cyprus’ letter to Metropolitan Tychikos, dated January 28, 2026, it states in particular: “Since the statement by your legal adviser in the media creates the impression that you have handed over the metropolitan premises and the metropolitan office (and therefore the keys) to the Holy Metropolis of Paphos – which does not correspond to the truth – we call upon you to do so by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, January 29, 2026.”

“Otherwise, tomorrow at 12:00, in the presence of the police, the premises and the office will be opened for the purpose of inventorying the property located there. You may be present personally in order to take any personal belongings,” the Archbishop wrote.

Involving the police in the process of transferring the keys has been described by experts as the culmination of a protracted conflict that began with allegations against Metropolitan Tychikos, continued with an investigation, his removal from the administration of the Metropolis of Paphos, the filing of an appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the confirmation of the relevant decision in Constantinople, and then the filing by Metropolitan Tychikos of a new appeal against the Synod’s decision to bar him from ministry (the “ban”).

At the same time, as noted, irritation among a number of members of the Holy Synod – including Archbishop George – was also prompted by the fact that Metropolitan Tychikos turned to the secular judicial system, seeking the annulment of the decision imposing an ecclesiastical penalty on him.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Metropolitan Tychikos’ lawyers, an appeal to the Phanar suspends the ban.

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