The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has unanimously affirmed the decision of the Church of Cyprus to remove Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos from diocesan leadership, effectively bringing to a close a months-long ecclesiastical dispute that has drawn attention across the Orthodox world.

The confirmation came during the Synod's session on October 17, as reported by Orthodox Times. While acknowledging minor procedural irregularities during the initial proceedings, the Ecumenical Patriarchate concluded that the core accusations — including a deliberate break in communion with the church hierarchy, known as apotikisi — were substantiated.

Although the Church of Cyprus is autocephalous (self-governing), it recognizes the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as the highest court of appeal in inter-Orthodox ecclesiastical matters. Metropolitan Tychikos had appealed to the Phanar, claiming that his removal in May 2025 had violated canonical procedures. However, the Patriarchate advised the former hierarch to "submit to the decisions of his Church for the sake of peace and unity."

Metropolitan Tychikos was elected in February 2023 with strong grassroots support from the faithful. However, his tenure quickly became contentious. He openly criticized the Church’s participation in ecumenical initiatives and refused to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy when the name of Epiphanius Dumenko — head of the unrecognized Orthodox Church of Ukraine — was mentioned.

Tensions escalated further when Tychikos rejected the reception of relics of the Apostle Paul in Paphos, which had been sent by the Roman Catholic Church as part of a joint initiative with the Vatican. He claimed the move violated Orthodox tradition.

The Cypriot Holy Synod saw these actions — and the inflammatory rhetoric from some of Tychikos’ supporters — as signs of growing separatism and self-isolation. Despite support from a few hierarchs, including Metropolitans Athanasios of Limassol and Neophytos of Morphou, the majority sided with Archbishop George of Cyprus in voting for Tychikos’s removal.

Following the ruling, Tychikos retains his episcopal rank and membership in the Synod but is barred from governing a diocese or participating in future archbishop elections. The Ecumenical Patriarchate's endorsement of the Cypriot Church's decision now formally closes the case.

In its final remarks, the Synod at the Phanar reaffirmed the canonical authority of the Church of Cyprus and called on all parties to seek reconciliation for the sake of unity among the Orthodox faithful of the island.