Nicosia, Cyprus. The Church of Cyprus has moved past the issue of ousted Paphos bishop Tychikos and will elect a new bishop once the church charter has been revised, archbishopric spokesman Christakis Efstathiou said on Friday.
Church stance and next steps
Efstathiou said the issue “exists no more” and that the Church has moved past it. He added that, after the Church of Cyprus charter is revised, a new bishop will be elected.
Appeal and Ecumenical Patriarchate position
Tychikos was indefinitely suspended by the Holy Synod after he appealed to the civil courts over his removal from the Paphos bishopric. Efstathiou said the Ecumenical Patriarchate is “not interested” in Tychikos’ appeal because it was considered a “personal matter” that did not affect church procedures.
Removal from the Paphos bishopric
Tychikos was removed at an emergency synod session in May 2025 following disputes with Archbishop Georgios over matters of church protocol. The Holy Synod said it thoroughly examined the case, citing his refusal to comply and what it described as continued disregard of repeated calls by the Patriarch to do so.
Synod findings and allegations
The Synod said it reviewed actions it described as unacceptable from the perspective of ecclesiastical morality, particularly his recourse to the civil courts, which it said amounted to apostasy. It also examined his conduct toward fellow bishops, alleging he tried to create divisions by addressing differently those who supported him and those who advocated his demotion.
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