Ex-Paphos bishop Tychikos asks Holy Synod why he is being summoned again

Nicosia, Cyprus. Tychikos, who formerly served as bishop of Paphos, has written to the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus seeking an explanation for a fresh summons to appear before it. He is also asking to be allowed to return to his religious duties.

The letter to the Synod

In the letter, dated October 14, Tychikos asks whether he is being called as an accused party or so that administrative and other ecclesiastical issues can be discussed. The Synod meets on Tuesday, and his case is expected to be the main item on the agenda.

Related: Archbishop Georgios gives Tychikos 10 days to meet him before Synod revisits case

RelatedArchbishop Georgios gives Tychikos 10 days to meet him before Synod revisits case

He also raised the wording of a letter sent to him on September 23, which described him as the “former Bishop of Paphos”. He asked why it did not say “Bishop, formerly of Paphos”, and requested clarification of his ecclesiastical status.

Complaints over the May 22 meeting

Tychikos says a Synod meeting held on May 22 last year was originally convened to look into complaints against him. According to him, it was turned into a judicial process without any advance notice, which left him unable to prepare a proper defence.

He was removed from office that same day after a disagreement with Archbishop Georgios over church governance and ecclesiastical practice.

Legal and church proceedings

The disagreement grew into a protracted legal and ecclesiastical dispute. Tychikos contested his removal before the Ecumenical Patriarchate and in the civil courts.

In January, the Holy Synod voted to suspend him indefinitely after he decided to take legal action in the civil courts. In March, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople turned down his second appeal, which allowed the Church to go ahead with arrangements for a successor.

In his latest letter, Tychikos states that going to the civil courts was not meant as disrespect towards the Synod. He describes it as an effort to protect his rights, his episcopal dignity and canonical order.