The Church of Cyprus has confirmed the existence of a controversial letter urging Orthodox priests to abandon the Church and establish a separate ecclesiastical organization, raising concerns about a potential schism amid continuing tensions over the removal of former Metropolitan of Paphos Tychikos.
According to an investigation by the Cypriot newspaper Phileleftheros, the letter bears the signatures of five individuals and has been distributed to every priest in the Paphos district, as well as numerous clergy members elsewhere in Cyprus. The correspondence reportedly began circulating approximately three months ago, with its authors seeking support for a new church structure that would challenge the authority and decisions of the Holy Synod.
Archimandrite Georgios Christodoulou, chief secretary of the Holy Synod, confirmed the letter’s existence on Tuesday, October 27. Speaking to reporters following an extraordinary Synod meeting, he said the matter had not formally been on the agenda but would be examined before it escalated further.
Allegations of unauthorized religious services
The controversy has also been fueled by reports that an Orthodox priest from a Slavic country has been conducting Divine Liturgies and administering Holy Communion at a private residence in Paphos.
According to Phileleftheros and Orthodox Times, the property belongs to an individual who supported Tychikos during his dispute with the Church leadership. Some worshippers have reportedly stopped attending services at established churches because they refuse to recognize Metropolitan Gregorios, who succeeded Tychikos.
The individuals behind the letter are believed to support apoteichisis, an Orthodox practice involving the cessation of ecclesiastical communion with a bishop whose teachings are considered contrary to the faith. Its proponents maintain that the practice protects Orthodox doctrine rather than constitutes a schism.
However, the identities of the five signatories have not been publicly disclosed, and the extent of their activities remains unclear.
Former Metropolitan Tychikos denies links to separatists
The developments have renewed attention on Tychikos, who was removed from the Paphos metropolitan throne in May 2025 following disagreements with Archbishop Georgios and the Holy Synod. He subsequently challenged his removal through ecclesiastical and civil legal proceedings and was indefinitely suspended from priestly duties in January 2026.
Although the reported initiative has been associated with individuals sympathetic to the former Metropolitan, there is no established evidence of his personal involvement.
In August, Tychikos explicitly rejected allegations connecting him to apoteichisis supporters. In a letter published by the newspaper Politis, he stated that such activities had neither his approval nor his consent.
Tychikos did not attend Tuesday’s Synod meeting, instead submitting a letter questioning the procedures surrounding his summons and requesting a private meeting with Archbishop Georgios.
The Holy Synod accepted his request and indicated that he would subsequently be expected to appear before its members and meet privately with Metropolitan Gregorios.
According to Cyprus Mail, Church authorities have previously asked Tychikos to sign a declaration affirming obedience to Synod decisions and distancing himself from apoteichisis. The dispute over that declaration remains unresolved.
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