A Necessary Intervention Regarding the Issue of Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos

source – trelogiannis.blogspot.com IN GREEK

In response to the recent publication of the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate regarding Metropolitan Tyhikos of Paphos, I consider it necessary to publish this intervention due to the systematic dissemination of incorrect information by clergy and laity in their public statements. I believe that it is the duty of every person to investigate the ..truth. Therefore, having followed the development and escalation of events regarding Metropolitan Tyhikos, which was caused by a portion of the members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, following interference and external interventions, as the decision of the Holy Synod itself states, I believe that it is my obligation to contribute to dispelling the prevailing confusion, to testify a) to the truth and :b) to combat the slander that the said Hierarch is suffering.

Let us, then, take things from the beginning, that is, from the procedures. First of all, it is obvious from … that ALL the articles of the Statute of the Church of Cyprus concerning criminal procedure regarding pre-trial proceedings were violated.1 • No investigative committee was established to receive any complaint (C.C. Par. B’ II A’ §2.1), • no investigation was carried out into the “offenses” of the Metropolitan (C.C. Par. B’ II A’ §12), no investigator was appointed (C.C. Par. B’ II A’ §13-4), nor was any Ecclesiastical Prosecutor appointed to formally draw up an indictment (C.C. Par. B’ II A’ §15-16).  The charges presented as an indictment were not submitted based on the normal structure defined by the Statute (C.C. Par. B’ II A’ §16.2), copies of the witness statements were not sent to the accused, while the indictment and the summons were not given at a specific time and day to appear before the Court (C.C. Par. B’ II A’ §19).

In addition to this complete violation of all articles concerning the pre-trial proceedings, many aspects of the main procedure provided for by the Statute were also NOT observed by the Holy Synod. Metropolitan Tyhikos was not given the opportunity to exercise his RIGHTS as an accused, namely to invite the examination of witnesses for the prosecution or defense, to have a lawyer, and to raise objections (C.C. Par. B’ II B’ §26-27). No witnesses were called, nor were any other evidence presented by the Ecclesiastical Prosecutor (since no prosecutor was appointed) (C.C. Par. B’ II B’ §31), and we do not have the minutes of the trial (C.C. Par. B’ II A’ §39). In fact, the Holy Synod itself, which convened as an extraordinary Synod, was automatically transformed (I wonder which article of the Charter provides for such a thing?) and performed the duties of both Ecclesiastical Prosecutor and Court at the same time! Something like this exceeds the limits of any concept of law and logic.

Finally, the Statutes stipulate that, if an appeal is filed, the decision of the Ecclesiastical Court is not applied until it has been heard. Only in the case of demotion or excommunication, does the decision have immediate consequences (CCC 7 §82).!!! Contrary, therefore, to this statutory principle, the Holy Synod immediately imposed on Metropolitan Tyhikos the decision of demotion and removed him from his position, even cutting off half of his salary, without this being provided for in the Statutes!!!! In practice, the hierarchs who condemned Metropolitan Tyhikos turned the Statutes of the Church of Cyprus into “a piece of paper” and shamelessly trampled on it.

And yet, although Metropolitan Tyhikos suffered all these injustices and arbitrariness, he did not oppose the Synod’s decisions or respond to the unprecedented and indisputable violation of the Charter of the Church of Cyprus. The Holy Synod ruled on May 22 that he be stripped and immediately removed from the Metropolitan throne of Paphos and that he be obliged to confess faith in which he would condemn apostasy.[1] Although this decision of the Synod is arbitrary and not based on any canon of the Church, since there was no accusation that Metropolitan Tyhikos espouses any heresy, the latter, nevertheless, complied with the terms of this decision by signing on June 18, 2025, a full confession of faith, which he sent to all members of the Holy Synod.[2] The reason why the Archdiocese of Cyprus, to this day, spreads in the media that it has not received the confession of faith remains incomprehensible.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, in turn, although it acknowledged that there were many omissions in the Charter’s provisions, unjustly justified the decision of the Holy Synod! [3] However, the Holy Synod has not yet implemented the decisions it took on May 22, 2025, claiming it did not receive any confession of faith.

Regardless of all these arbitrarinesses of the Holy Synod, the most important thing is the very essence of the issue, namely, whether what Metropolitan Tychikos is accused of is true, and whether these are enough to impose on him a dismissal from his Metropolitan throne. As for the first accusation regarding the issue of desecration, the cleric referred to in the first point of the announcement was certainly not sent to Thessaloniki by Metropolitan Tyhikos with any deceit but, as the convicted person noted in his public clarification, he went to Thessaloniki on a regular leave of absence for studies and Metropolitan Regardless of all these arbitrarinesses of the Holy Synod, the most important thing is the very essence of the issue, namely whether what Metropolitan Tychikos is accused of is true, and whether these are enough to impose on him a dismissal from his Metropolitan throne. As for the first accusation regarding the issue of desecration, the cleric referred to in the first point of the announcement1 was certainly not sent to Thessaloniki by Metropolitan Tychikos with any deceit but, as the convicted person noted in his public clarification, he simply went to Thessaloniki on a regular leave of absence for studies and Metropolitan Tychikos had no involvement in anything he did after his departure from the Metropolis of Paphos.

Assessing the second issue of mixed marriages, Metropolitan Tychikos has again clarified that he never prevented their realization, as is evident from the number of mixed marriages that were performed. All he did was urge non-Orthodox Christians to become Orthodox Christians without, however, exerting any pressure on them.[4] Finally, the Holy Chapel which was inaugurated on 6 July 2024 in Mesana, Paphos, was dedicated to Saint Epiphanius of Salamis and secondarily to Saint Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis,[5] and not to the cleric Nektarios Vitalis, as falsely spread by various media outlets. The fact that a hagiography was made in honor of the aforementioned cleric inside the Chapel does not mean that it was dedicated to him. Therefore, no canon of the Church was violated by the Metropolitan and none of the accusations are true!!

Bearing all of the above in mind, I would like to address a sincere appeal to the members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus for their compliance with the Charter and the canons of the Church. I believe that, based on what has been clarified above, the members of the Holy Synod must review and revoke their unjust decision by restoring Metropolitan Tychikos to his throne. If this sounds excessive, I believe that there is an undeniable need to review the issue of Metropolitan Tychikos by a competent Ecclesiastical Court that will be established and will operate in a manner harmonized with the requirements of the Charter of the Church of Cyprus. This should have been the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate based on the omissions it identified.

Assessing the second issue of mixed marriages, Metropolitan Tychikos has again clarified that he never prevented their realization, as is evident from the number of mixed marriages that were performed. All he did was urge non-Orthodox Christians to become Orthodox Christians without, however, exerting any pressure on them.[4] Finally, the Holy Chapel which was inaugurated on 6 July 2024 in Mesana, Paphos, was dedicated to Saint Epiphanius of Salamis and secondarily to Saint Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis,[5] and not to the cleric Nektarios Vitalis, as falsely spread by various media outlets. The fact that a hagiography was made in honor of the aforementioned cleric inside the Chapel does not mean that it was dedicated to him. Therefore, no canon of the Church was violated by the Metropolitan and none of the accusations are true. Bearing all of the above in mind, I would like to address a sincere appeal to the members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus for their compliance with the Charter and the canons of the Church. I believe that, based on what has been clarified above, the members of the Holy Synod must review and revoke their unjust decision by restoring Metropolitan Tychikos to his throne. If this sounds excessive, I believe that there is an undeniable need to review the issue of Metropolitan Tychikos by a competent Ecclesiastical Court that will be established and will operate in a manner harmonized with the requirements of the Charter of the Church of Cyprus. This should have been the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate based on the omissions it identified.

In closing, I would like to share my personal experience of the current shaking of the unity of the body of the Church. The division that has been promoted recently by those who govern the State and the Church of Cyprus reminds me strongly of the stormy years of 1972-73, during which we once again experienced a tragic division within Cypriot society. This discord and breakdown of unity among our compatriots ultimately led to the tragic events for the country of Attila 1 and Attila 2 with the activation of spiritual laws. I hope I am wrong… I am very afraid, however, that the current division has all the conditions to lead us again to a third tragic Attila. So, if, despite hope, something like this happens, let us not mourn over the ruins for the fallen, asking “why”. The answer for the new Attila 3 may be found in the present text and in all the tragic and anti-ecclesiastical things we are experiencing today in our homeland.   I hope that we all come to our senses before it is too late again…   “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Most Holy Theotokos, save and help us. Holy Cross, protect us and your world with all your might. Apostle Barnabas, founder and protector of the Church of Cyprus, intercede for us. All the bright-shining saints in Cyprus, intercede for us.” With unspeakable anguish for the Land and for the faithful people of God.

 [1] https://churchofcyprus.org.cy/97978

[2] orthodoxianewsagency

[3] ec-patr.org/anakoinothen

[4] cyprustimes.com

[5] impaphou.org