Former Bishop of Paphos to Take Case to Court

The former Metropolitan Bishop of Paphos, Tychikos, has informed the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus of his intention to appeal to the courts, seeking the return of the Metropolitan seat of Paphos. In his letter, he states that the seat was legally granted to him through an electoral process. This move comes at a time of intense debate regarding the election of Metropolitan Bishops. The Holy Synod will discuss Tychikos' case at its next meeting on Thursday, January 8th. At the same time, it will consider the proposal of the Archbishop of Cyprus to change the statutory charter so that Metropolitan Bishops and Bishops are elected by the Synod itself, while the Archbishop is elected by the people. Tychikos' decision to take legal action indicates his opposition to the Holy Synod's decision not to renew his term. The case is expected to provoke strong reactions in the church and political circles, as it raises issues of legality and transparency in church elections. The change to the statutory charter proposed by the Archbishop of Cyprus could limit the influence of the people in the election of Metropolitan Bishops, while strengthening the role of the Holy Synod. This proposal is expected to be widely discussed and face opposition from various sides.