Greek Jurist Condemns Ousting of Cypriot Bishop as Act of Church Totalitarianism

GREECE—The deposition of Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos by the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus has sparked sharp criticism from Greek jurist and church analyst Cosmas-Sebastian Gotsopoulos, who in a public statement called the event an act of “ecclesiastical totalitarianism,” according to reports from the Union of Orthodox Journalists in Greece.

“This was not a trial—it was a premeditated and formal purge, one that even totalitarian regimes would envy,” Gotsopoulos declared after analyzing the procedure that led to the Cypriot bishop’s removal.

According to him, the deposition process blatantly violated all norms of church law: there was no investigative committee, no formal indictment, no ecclesiastical prosecutor appointed, no witness testimonies taken, and Metropolitan Tychikos was not granted a lawyer or sufficient time to prepare a defense.

The analyst emphasized that Metropolitan Tychikos was not deposed for financial, moral, or doctrinal misconduct, but rather for his unwavering commitment to Orthodox tradition. “He was removed for his consistent adherence to the Orthodox ecclesial order—specifically, for refusing to commune or pray with Catholic cardinals, a stance rooted in his ecclesiological conscience and sacred canons,” Gotsopoulos noted.

Gotsopoulos expressed particular concern over the demand from the Archbishop of Cyprus that Metropolitan Tychikos sign a “Confession of Faith” affirming the decisions of the 2016 Cretan Council, which also denounces the canons of St. Photius and the examples of the Holy Fathers.

This demand amounts to institutional blackmail and directly threatens the freedom of ecclesiastical conscience and the canonical heritage of our Church.

He warned of the dangerous precedent being set: “The decision of May 22, 2025, does not just condemn Tychikos—it condemns the ecclesiastical order itself. This precedent could be used against any bishop who dares to disagree or remains consistent in their ecclesiological convictions.”

According to Gotsopoulos, the events unfolding in Cyprus affect more than just individual figures—they strike at the very foundations of ecclesiastical justice and the institutional essence of the Church.

What we are witnessing is not merely a personal dispute but a violation of the principles of church justice.

He called on the Church of Cyprus to reconsider the decision, warning that failure to do so would result in “a historical record not just of the fall of one metropolitan, but of the moral and institutional collapse of the Synod and the deposition of an entire Apostolic Church.”

Previously, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported that a protest had been held in Paphos, Cyprus, opposing the removal of Metropolitan Tychikos.

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