BREAKING: Constantinople Upholds Decision of Church of Cyprus to Depose Met. Tychikos

Met. Tychikos and Pat. Bartholomew. Photo: UOJ

ISTANBUL — In a decision announced on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, the Holy Synod of Constantinople chose to uphold the May decision of the Holy Synod of Cyprus to depose Met. Tychikos of Paphos.

In a release from the Chief Secretariat in Constantinople, it was shared that Synodal members addressed Met. Tychikos and asked him questions regarding the charges brought against him, offering him the opportunity to respond.

The most glaring part of the release is that the Synod acknowledged "certain procedural omissions" during the examination of the case file against Met. Tychikos that was built by the Cypriot Synod, representing a violation of its own Charter. It should be noted that the violation of the Charter of the Church of Cyprus was the basis of Met. Tychikos' appeal, which was to no avail even after being recognized as valid. In short, his case was proven yet ignored.

"Judging on the substance of the matter," the Synod unanimously ratified the decision of the Church of Cyprus and Met. Tychikos was advised to obey "for his own spiritual benefit and for the peace and unity of the church."

In a video posted upon leaving the Phanar, Met. Tychikos expressed his gratitude to Pat. Bartholomew and the hierarchs who listened to him, and he reiterated that he has nothing to do with groups promoting schism. "The Patriarch will speak," he concluded.

The decision has been ill-received by the faithful, who have been protesting their bishop's removal since the initial decision back in May. One commenter on Facebook said, "He is and will remain our worthy Metropolitan!" with another saying, "It was all a set up. I am so sorry."

Previously, UOJ reported that Abp. Georgios of Cyprus, who has repeatedly stated that the Synod of Constantinople will uphold the decision, had allegedly threatened blackmail of Pat. Bartholomew with the potential commemoration of Met. Onuphry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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