Archbishop of Cyprus Accuses Metropolitan Tychikos of 'Offense' He Himself Committed
Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus accuses Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos of consecrating a church to a saint who has yet to be canonized. However, Georgios did the same thing during his tenure as Metropolitan of Paphos!
NICOSIA — In the aftermath of the “dismissal” of Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos by the Holy Synod of Cyprus, a new revelation raises further questions about the Synod's decision.
Archbishop Georgios has accused Metropolitan Tychikos of (among other things) consecrating a church in honor of Elder Nektarios Vitalis, who has yet to be officially canonized a saint.
However, the UOJ’s Greek bureau has revealed that Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus once committed the same "offense."
On July 13, 2008, when George himself was Metropolitan of Paphos, he consecrated a church to Saint Ephraim the Great-Martyr of Nea Makri. At the time, however, Ephraim had yet to be officially canonized. His canonization occurred three years later on March 2, 2011.
When asked by a journalist whether he had ever consecrated a church to a saint before they were canonized, the Archbishop replied: “No, I did no such thing.”
Journalists of the UOJ’s Greek bureau have confirmed that Georgios did indeed consecrate the Church of Saint Ephraim before the saint was officially canonized.
