The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus has placed former Bishop of Paphos, Tychikos, on indefinite suspension, following a decision taken during its extraordinary session held on Thursday.
According to an official announcement read by the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Georgios, the Synod convened on Thursday, 8 January 2026, under Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios, and resolved to impose the penalty of suspension without a fixed end date on the former Bishop of Paphos.
The suspension will remain in force until Tychikos fully accepts all the terms set for him by the Holy Synod, the announcement said.
During Thursday’s session, the Holy Synod discussed several matters, including the case of Bishop Tychikos, proposed constitutional changes, and complaints relating to monks who had been residing at the Monastery of Avakoum.
The emergency session was convened after Tychikos formally informed the Holy Synod of his intention to pursue legal action through the civil courts in an effort to reclaim his position as Bishop of Paphos. Church authorities have described such a move as an act of disobedience, maintaining that ecclesiastical disputes must be resolved internally and not through the civil justice system.
Archimandrite Georgios also noted that the Synod’s session has not yet been concluded, due to the number of issues on the agenda. As a result, the Holy Synod will reconvene next Wednesday, 14 January 2026, to continue its work.