Phanar: Holy Synod Defrocks Swedish Cleric, Elects New Bishop

Patriarchal and Synodal Liturgy at the Phanar for the First Ecumenical Council. Photo: Nikos Papachristou/Ecumenical Patriarchate

ISTANBUL, Turkey — The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, presided over by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, continued its meetings on June 2, 2025, addressing various ecclesiastical matters.

Among its decisions, the Synod announced the defrocking of Fr. Ioannis Nikolaidis of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia, returning him to the lay state.

In March, it was reported by the Orthodox Times that the Metropolis became aware of Nikolaidis joining an Old Calendarist group based in Athens through online posts and local parishioners.

As a result, Nikolaidis was suspended from all priestly duties.

“Despite this, he has reportedly transferred the use of the Boras chapel – as well as its religious items such as icons, liturgical vessels, and the Epitaphios – to a group that does not maintain sacramental or ecclesiastical communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Greece, or any recognized Orthodox body,” the Orthodox Times reported in March.

It was last reported that Archimandrite Fr. Sosipatros Stefanoudis is visiting Boras once a month to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and perform sacraments for the faithful.

In other business, the Synod elected Fr. Fanourios Tholiotis, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Switzerland, as the new Bishop of Tyana on June 1. On June 2, the Bishop-elect received both the Mikro Minima and Mega Minima — the traditional proclamations of election — according to the rites of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Synod convened on June 1 following the Patriarchal and Synodal Divine Liturgy in memory of the Holy 318 God-bearing Fathers who formed the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, of which the 1700th anniversary was honored.

Previously, UOJ reported on Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America leading a pilgrimage to Nicaea, which included a visit to the Phanar.

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