Paphos, Cyprus. Deposed Paphos bishop Tychikos plans to take his dismissal case to the European Court of Human Rights after exhausting all legal avenues in Cyprus, his legal representatives said on Saturday. They said he will remain in Paphos until all legal proceedings are completed.
Planned legal action
Tychikos’ legal representatives said he will “exhaust every legal remedy, both before the Cypriot courts and, if deemed necessary, before the European Court of Human Rights”.
They also said he currently resides in Paphos as the guest of a well-known family after leaving the bishopric earlier in the week.
Departure from bishopric residence
On Thursday, bishopric staff found the residence vacant and, after entering it, found that Tychikos’ personal belongings had been removed.
His departure followed a request by Archbishop Georgios that he vacate the premises before his successor is enthroned next week.
Dismissal and status
Tychikos was deposed from his role in May last year, when the Holy Synod voted by a margin of 10 to 6 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”.
This meant that Tychikos retained the title of bishop but was relieved of his administrative duties.
Previous dispute and appeal
Archbishop Georgios had previously clashed with Tychikos 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”.
Tychikos later appealed against his dismissal to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, but the appeal was unsuccessful.
