Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos Rejects Archbishop’s Restrictions on Church Services

PAPHOS — Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos has written to Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus, insisting on the need to celebrate a memorial Divine Liturgy for his mother in the main church of the village of Mesana on Sunday—where all the villagers traditionally gather—rather than in the remote chapel proposed by the Archbishop for Saturday. This was reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ) in Greece, citing Philenews.

Metropolitan Tychikos argued that the chapel proposed by the Archbishop is unsafe for elderly parishioners due to a lack of infrastructure and the extreme heat. He asserted that his right to serve has never been revoked and that there are no canonical grounds for such restrictions. He also demanded access to all official documents regarding his case, which have been withheld for over a month.

In closing, the Metropolitan invited the Archbishop to concelebrate the memorial service and to commune together “from one Holy Chalice,” demonstrating the unity of the Church. He emphasized that the final decision concerning his status rests with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

In his letter, Metropolitan Tychikos recounted that his initial request, made on June 22, 2025, asked permission to serve both in an abandoned monastery and in his native village of Mesana, Paphos, for the sixth anniversary of his mother Frederica’s repose. The Holy Synod responded on June 23 that he would need the “Locum Tenens’” permission to serve.

Tychikos followed the directive and formally applied on June 25 to celebrate 15 Divine Liturgies and two vigils in various parishes. Yet, the Archbishop’s reply on June 26 denied him permission to serve in Paphos, offering instead a limited allowance “by ecclesiastical economy” to serve on Saturday, July 5, without explanation for either the restriction or the so-called economy.

Tychikos detailed the practical dangers of the remote chapel: difficult access, lack of basic facilities, and severe heat posing real risks to elderly participants. He insisted the memorial service must take place in the main church on Sunday, July 6, honoring both his mother’s memory and the local tradition.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Archbishop of Cyprus had prohibited Metropolitan Tychikos from serving liturgically.

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