A Carefully Staged Smear Campaign Against Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos

source – tastghyras.wordpress.com (σθνδεθειτε εδω για το ελληνικο πρωτότυπο)

Editor’s note: Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos is a gentle and harmless man who would not hurt even a fly. One only needs to listen to him briefly and observe his humble demeanor to conclude that, once again, he is being slandered. It is difficult for us to accept that priests—who ought to kiss his hand as their bishop—are turning against him. We have read in books that such things have happened in the past to persecuted individuals, yet it is inconceivable to believe that it is happening in our own time. We are ashamed even on behalf of the various websites that present this “news” as though it were true. All are partners in a vile conspiracy. How has our society come to this?

The incident at the Church of the Holy Apostles Paul and Barnabas reveals yet another fabricated accusation, filled with contradictions, theatrical elements, and false testimonies aimed at tarnishing his name and ministry.

The continuous targeting of Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos can no longer be considered coincidental. Every week brings a new accusation, a new “revelation,” a new attempt to create negative impressions against him—almost always disseminated in an organized manner with the clear intention of defaming his name and ministry.

This situation strongly recalls the Gospel account of the Lord, when “many false witnesses” appeared but were unable to produce a real accusation. When there is no actual guilt, impressions are manufactured. When they cannot attack the work, they attempt to attack the person.

A characteristic example is the incident at the Holy Church of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas. When Metropolitan Tychikos entered the church simply to attend the Divine Liturgy, the Protosyncellus appeared visibly unsettled and uncomfortable. Instead of the normal ecclesiastical order and basic brotherly conduct prevailing, his presence caused irritation—so much so that it was requested he be told to leave, as if he were unwelcome in the very church itself.

From that point on, it appears that an entire scene was staged. Whether by personal initiative or under instructions, a theatrical situation was created out of nothing, with the aim of constructing yet another accusation against Metropolitan Tychikos and causing further public damage to his reputation.

The incident was presented as a supposedly serious episode, with claims of injury to the Protosyncellus and the clear intent of creating yet another charge against the Metropolitan.

However, the facts themselves completely refute this narrative.

If there had truly been a serious injury to the hands, as claimed, the obvious course would have been immediate departure to a hospital or at least a visible inability to continue the Divine Liturgy. Instead, the exact opposite occurred:

• He continued the service entirely normally.
• He performed the censing without any difficulty.
• He carried out both the Small and Great Entrance without any problem.
• He fanned the Holy Gifts during the Creed—a liturgical act requiring full use and ease of the hands.
• He administered Holy Communion to the faithful for approximately half an hour without any difficulty.
• He completed the consumption of the Gifts and the remaining duties in the sanctuary without any visible issue.

For any clergyman or faithful person familiar with the flow of the Divine Liturgy, it is entirely clear that all these actions require strength, stability, and ease in the use of the hands. These are not simple movements, but continuous liturgical acts that cannot be performed normally by someone who has just suffered a serious injury. The Protosyncellus appeared completely comfortable, showing no sign of pain, difficulty, or limitation.

All of this is inconsistent with someone who had just sustained a serious blow to the hands.

Only later—after phone calls within the sanctuary and once the appropriate atmosphere had been created—did the hand bandaging appear, followed by a visit for first aid and then a trip to the police to file a report.

And here comes the most revealing point:

As soon as he exited the police station, he removed the bandage from his hand and drove his car himself.

This alone raises serious and reasonable questions. If there had been a real injury, how did it disappear so quickly? How were all the liturgical acts performed without any sign of pain or difficulty? How can this sudden transition from “injury” to full functionality be explained?

Eyewitnesses, both inside and outside the church, describe a picture entirely different from the one that was publicly presented. And that is precisely what is troubling: the truth.

Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos is known for his character, gentleness, and integrity in his ecclesiastical life. Those who know him personally are well aware that he is a calm, harmless, and principled individual. It is inconceivable to attribute to him behavior foreign to his character and his lifelong course in the Church.

Unfortunately, when some cannot refute a person’s work, they resort to mudslinging. Slander becomes a tool, and theatrical exaggeration a means of pressure. But the truth cannot remain hidden for long.

The faithful see, hear, and judge. They are not easily misled by staged impressions or fabricated stories. On the contrary, the more the attempt to defame intensifies, the more the underlying motives are revealed.

Truth does not need noise. It only needs time.

And time always vindicates.