Paphos, Cyprus. Deposed Paphos bishop Tychikos said on Thursday that police cannot search his office at the bishopric without a warrant, after Archbishop Georgios informed him officers would search both his flat and office.
Dispute over planned search and keys
Tychikos said conducting a search without first acquiring a warrant would “constitute an arbitrary act”. He added that the keys to the flat and the office, which the archbishop had demanded he return, are “in the doors”.
Tychikos said he keeps no personal belongings in either location and that, since he was relieved of his duties in May last year, he has been living elsewhere on the complex and not in the flat allocated to the bishop of the day.
The archbishop ordered Tychikos to vacate the bishopric flat and hand over the keys to the bishopric on Thursday morning, and informed him that police would enter the flat and the bishop’s office “to record what is in there”.
Holy Synod decision on removal
Tychikos was deposed from his role in May last year, with the Holy Synod voting by a 10 to 6 margin to ratify his removal from official status after he was charged with various 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 that the aforementioned hierarchy shall 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 his administrative duties.
Earlier clashes and municipal criticism
The archbishop had previously clashed with Tychikos, notably over the latter’s 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 his dismissal, Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos said his municipality had had to suffer “trying and unbecoming behaviours” on Tychikos’ part for years. Phedonos said Tychikos had taken the municipality to court “without the courtesy of informing” them, 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 stonewalling was a “spiritual retreat”.
What do you think the police should do next in response to Tychikos’ demand for a warrant?
