Cypriot Priest Suspended After Defending Ousted Metropolitan of Paphos
Fr. Dimos Serkelidis receives six-month suspension after challenging Archbishop over controversial removal of Metropolitan Tychikos
NICOSIA—In the wake of the controversial removal of Metropolitan Tychikos from his position in Paphos by the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, tensions within the Church have escalated with the suspension of another clergyman who defended the ousted hierarch.
On May 30, the Metropolis of Paphos—temporarily under the leadership of Archbishop Georgios—announced a six-month suspension for Fr. Dimos Serkelidis. The suspension followed a video in which Fr. Dimos criticized the Archbishop and the Synod, accusing them of violating church law in their handling of Metropolitan Tychikos's removal.
In his address, Fr. Dimos refuted claims that he had been sent to Thessaloniki by the Metropolitan to join a protest movement of priests who stopped commemorating their bishop. Instead, he stated that his trip was due to family matters and that Met. Tychikos was trying to bring him back to Paphos. Although acquainted with some dissenting clerics, he maintained he was not part of their movement.
Fr. Dimos accused Archbishop Georgios of making no effort to investigate the facts before punishing him and removing Metropolitan Tychikos, who had vocally opposed ecumenism. He asserted that proper ecclesiastical procedures were ignored in both cases—no formal charges, hearings, or opportunity to defend themselves were provided.
According to Fr. Dimos, the Archbishop summoned him to his office, informed him of his suspension in front of a few other priests, and offered no official documents or indication that it was a court proceeding. He later discovered via a message on Viber that the meeting had been declared an official session of the Metropolis’ Ecclesiastical Court.
Calling the process a mockery of justice, Fr. Dimos urged Orthodox Christians to take action rather than offer mere moral support. He implored the faithful to demand accountability from Church leaders, awaken their parishes, and stand in defense of canonical order. Framing the moment as a divine test, he warned that failure to respond could mean missing a once-in-a-lifetime chance to defend the integrity of the Church.
UOJ-America has reported previously on the protest in support of the deposed Metropolitan, and criticisms of Archbishop Georgios from monastics, theologians, and jurists alike.
