Cypriot Hierarch: Archbishop Set Condition for Repayment of His Own Loan
Archbishop George promised to pay the debt of the Paphos Metropolis, but demanded in return submission and the reception of a Catholic delegation with the relics of the Apostle Paul.
The legal representation of former Metropolitan of Paphos Tychikos stated that Archbishop of Cyprus George conditioned the repayment of the metropolis's debt on personal demands to the hierarch, – according to a statement released by the bishop's office on June 8.
According to the document, this concerns a previously existing debt of the Paphos Metropolis to a bank in the amount of approximately 3,242,899 euros, not including interest and other charges. This debt, as the lawyers emphasize, arose during the time of Tychikos's predecessor on the Paphos cathedra – the current Archbishop George.
As stated in the declaration, while still serving as Metropolitan of Paphos, George publicly promised that if elected Archbishop, the Archbishopric would provide funds to repay this debt. However, after his election, amid the question of a Catholic delegation's visit to Cyprus with the relics of the Apostle Paul, the situation changed.
According to the statement, at that moment the Archbishop allegedly told the metropolitan: «If you want me to pay off the loan, you will receive the Head and do what I tell you».
The statement also indicates that to repay the debt, the Archbishopric entered into a new loan agreement with a bank chosen exclusively at its discretion, at a huge interest rate of about 6 – 6.5% – while the market rate of that period was 3.5 – 4.5%. The metropolis's accountant, according to Tychikos, called such a loan usurious.
As collateral for the loan, two large land holdings of the Paphos Metropolis worth approximately 5.5 million euros at that time were pledged to the Archbishopric, and the debt with interest had to be repaid within a tight five-year term.
It should be recalled that on May 22, 2025, the Synod of the Church of Cyprus by majority vote (10 against 6) removed Metropolitan Tychikos from the Paphos cathedra. One of the reasons for the conflict was the bishop's refusal to receive a Catholic delegation with the relics of the Apostle Paul in his diocese, which was arriving in Cyprus by agreement with the Vatican.
Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported that Metropolitan Tychikos was evicted from the building of the Paphos Metropolis.
