Tychikos a non-issue says church, patriarchate not interested

The issue of ousted Paphos bishop Tychikos exists no more and, once the Church of Cyprus charter has been revised, a new bishop will be elected, archbishopric spokesman Christakis Efstathiou said on Friday.

Tychikos had been indefinitely suspended by the Holy Synod following his decision to appeal to the civil courts over his removal from the Paphos bishopric.

“The Church has moved past this issue,” Efstathiou said.

He also pointed out that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is “not interested” in Tychikos’ appeal, as it was considered to be a “personal matter”, which did not affect church procedures.

Tychikos was removed from the Paphos bishopric at an emergency synod session in May 2025, following a series of disputes with Archbishop Georgios over matters of church protocol.

The Holy Synod stated that it thoroughly examined the case, taking into account his refusal to comply and his continued disregard of repeated calls by the Patriarch to do so.

The Synod also examined what it described as unacceptable actions from the perspective of ecclesiastical morality, particularly his recourse to the civil courts, which it said amounted to apostasy.

It further examined his conduct towards fellow bishops, alleging that he attempted to create divisions by addressing differently those who supported him and those who advocated his demotion.