Paphos, Cyprus. Archbishop Georgios has ordered deposed Paphos bishop Tychikos to leave the bishopric flat and hand over the keys by 10am on Thursday. A letter to Tychikos said police will enter the flat and the bishop’s office at 12pm to record what is inside.
Order to vacate and police entry
The instruction was issued in a letter sent on Wednesday, directing Tychikos to vacate the bishopric flat and surrender the keys by Thursday morning. The letter also stated that police will enter the flat and the bishop’s office two hours later to record what is in the premises.
Deposition and Holy Synod decision
Tychikos was deposed in May last year after the Holy Synod voted 10-6 to ratify his removal from official status. He had been charged with breaches of church protocol, including showcasing an icon of a saint not canonised by the church.
Church secretary Georgios Christodoulou said at the time that the Holy Synod decided Tychikos would remain a bishop of the Church of Cyprus and a member of the Holy Synod, understood to mean he may retain the title but has been relieved of administrative duties.
Disputes and local criticism
Archbishop Georgios had previously clashed with Tychikos, including over Tychikos’ refusal to allow the relic of Apostle Paul’s skull to be brought from the Vatican City to Cyprus, on the principle that the late Pope Francis was “a heretic”.
The day after Tychikos’ dismissal, Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos said the municipality had endured “trying and unbecoming behaviours” by Tychikos for years. Phedonos said Tychikos had taken the municipality to court “without the courtesy of informing” it, and that he had obstructed communication between the municipality and the bishopric by locking offices and refusing to answer telephone calls.
Phedonos said the reason given for the lack of communication was a “spiritual retreat”.
Appeal outcome
Tychikos appealed his dismissal at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople but was unsuccessful.
What do you think the next steps will be following the order for Tychikos to vacate the bishopric flat?
