ANNOUNCEMENT
Because in recent days many claims have been made public that distort reality and the truth, we wish, for the sake of restoring the truth, to point out the following:
1. Clergy who are under suspension (argia) are not permitted to wear the vestments proper to their rank, nor to commemorate (do the proskomide) at the Holy Prothesis. The suspended former Metropolitan of Paphos, Tychikos, last Sunday wore an epitrachelion and omophorion and commemorated at the Holy Prothesis of the Church of the Holy Apostles Paul and Barnabas with the portion and the holy lance. His lawyer, as a former cleric, should be well aware of what the penalty of suspension entails for a clergyman.
2. When the presiding priest of the church pointed out that such actions are not permitted, the former Metropolitan struck and pushed him at the same time. There is testimony to this effect from the second priest of the church. No one prevents the former Metropolitan from praying or chanting in various churches, especially since he possesses the qualifications of a chanter and has a melodious voice. Indeed, he has recently been doing so, visiting churches celebrating their feasts. However, he is not permitted “to perform the Proskomide” at the Holy Prothesis, something which, for unclear reasons, he did for the first time this past Sunday.
3. The reports that His Beatitude the Archbishop urged the Mayor of Paphos, Mr. Phaedon Phaedonos, to “fabricate” accusations against the former Metropolitan of Paphos in order to facilitate his removal from the episcopal throne are false and unfounded. Instructions have already been given to the Archdiocese’s lawyers to act appropriately. Moreover, neither the Mayor’s complaints nor other more serious and specific accusations were used in the formal charges against the Metropolitan of Paphos. The accusations he faced were of an ecclesiological nature, and on the basis of these the Holy Synod first declared him deposed from the throne and later imposed the penalty of suspension. These same accusations were examined, and the decisions of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus were upheld by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which rejected both of his appeals.
4. If anyone has information or evidence of financial irregularities or mismanagement in the Metropolis of Paphos, they are encouraged to address the auditing department of the Holy Synod. Anyone possessing evidence of financial crimes may report them to the competent police authorities. However, those who knowingly spread falsehoods should consider their conscience or fear God, in addition to facing the legal consequences of their actions.
5. The faithful people of Paphos are called upon to show trust in the Church and the Holy Synod and not to be led astray either by defrocked clergy or by seemingly pious Christians who, “for their own benefit,” seek to draw them into their errors. The Holy Synod will very soon, with sobriety and discernment, elect the new shepherd of Paphos.
From the Sacred Archdiocese
April 28, 2026
April 28, 2026
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
