Greek Bishop: Met. Tychikos Condemned Unjustly

KYTHIRA — Met. Seraphim of Kythira has sent an open letter to Met. Tychikos of Paphos, in which he expressed support and criticized the legality of the sentence handed down to him, the UOJ's Greek branch reports with reference to the official website of the Metropolis of Kythira.

In his message, Met. Seraphim states that Met. Tychikos was "condemned without a church-canonical procedure" and calls on the Church of Cyprus to observe the sacred canons in order to make a "humane decision." The Metropolitan of Kythira reported that on Oct. 17, the day of the consideration of the appeal of Met. Tychikos in Constantinople, he celebrated the Liturgy at the Monastery of the Holy Unmercenaries in Kythira, praying for the success of his case and the resolution of the drama.

"We hoped that the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarchal Synod, having carefully studied the case and established, according to the Synodal message, oversights in the consideration of the case of Met. Tychikos in the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus regarding the provisions of its Statute, would return the case to the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus for review in strict compliance with the ecclesiastical and canonical norms and procedural requirements of the Statute," writes Met. Seraphim.

The hierarch of the Church of Greece expressed deep condolences for the fact that despite the violations of the procedure revealed by Constantinople, the members of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate "unanimously approved the synodal decision of the Church of Cyprus, passing judgment on the merits."

"When a case is not considered legally and canonically and all its sides are not covered, how is it possible to judge fairly and fully, on the basis of truth and truth, and 'on the merits?' Will such a decision contribute to the pacification of the people of God and the unity of the Christ-named plenitude of the Church?" asks Met. Seraphim.

The letter cites examples of unjust ecclesiastical trials from the Church's 2,000-year history, including the condemnation of the Savior, the five exiles of St. Athanasios the Great, the exile of St. John Chrysostom, the 30-year exile of St. Nektarios of Aegina without trial, the conviction and expulsion of three metropolitans of the Church of Cyprus under Abp. Macarius, as well as the conviction without trial and protection of 12 metropolitans of the Church of Greece in 1974.

The letter of Met. Seraphim is published in full below.

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THE METROPOLITAN OF KYTHIRA AND ANTIKYTHIRA
SERAPHIM

To
His Eminence Metropolitan of Paphos,
Mr. Tychikos,
condemned without the prescribed canonical and legal procedure

“Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord God will fight for you.”
(Wisdom of Sirach)
Your Eminence, Most Reverend and beloved brother,

Bless!

Some days ago, as you were “going up to Jerusalem” (that is, to Constantinople), you sent me a message asking for prayers from my lowliness. From the heart I prayed, I have prayed, and I continue to pray for Your Eminence in your time of trial.

On Friday, October 17, 2025, the day of your appearance before the Patriarchal Holy Synod for the hearing of your appeal, we celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Monastery of the Holy Unmercenaries in Kythira, together with two abbot–pilgrims (one accompanied by his three-member brotherhood), for the success of your cause and the resolution of your ordeal. We had hoped and expected that the Ecumenical Patriarch, together with the Patriarchal Holy Synod around him, having carefully examined your case and, as the Synodal communiqué stated, “having noted procedural omissions in the trial of the case of Metropolitan Tychikos within the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, in relation to the provisions of its Charter,” would return the case file to the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus for a new review of the matter, with exact observance of the canonical and procedural norms of the Charter of the Church of Cyprus.

For, according to reliable information, these were not simple or insignificant omissions, but a disregard for the procedural order established by the Charter.

We were deeply grieved that although “omissions were noted in relation to the provisions of the Charter of the Church of Cyprus,” nevertheless “the members of the Holy and Sacred Synod, judging on the substance, unanimously ratified the synodal decision of the Most Holy Church of Cyprus.”

From this arises the question: when a case has not been examined lawfully and canonically, and all its aspects have not been illuminated, how is it possible for it to be judged justly and completely, on the basis of truth and justice, and “on the substance”? And can such a decision, taken in this way, contribute to the peace of God’s people and to the unity of the Christ-bearing flock of the Church?

Your Eminence, holy brother,

In our 20 centuries and more of ecclesiastical history, we have had unjust trials. By way of example, we mention:

1. The unjust trial and condemnation of our Savior Jesus Christ.
2. The unjust trials and condemnations of Saint Athanasios the Great (who was exiled five times, for a total of 16 years).
3. The unjust trial, condemnation, and exile of Saint John Chrysostom.
4. The condemnation and thirty-year exile without trial of Saint Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis, the grace-filled.
5. The condemnation and deposition of three ever-memorable Metropolitans of the Church of Cyprus under Archbishop Makarios — Gennadios of Paphos, Anthimos of Kition, and Kyprianos of Kyrenia.
6. The condemnation without trial or defense of twelve Metropolitans of the Church of Greece in 1974, nine days before the Turkish invasion of our Cyprus.

Your Eminence,

Remaining steadfast “in the Holy and Immaculate Faith of pious and Orthodox Christians,” in the Tradition of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, and in the Divine and Holy Canons of Orthodoxy — and reaffirming the content of the Confession of Faith which we gave at our ordination to the episcopate — I recall the words: “Wait for the Lord; be courageous, and let your heart be strong, and wait for the Lord” (Prophet-King David).

I pray from my heart that the All-Holy Spirit may illumine the “mind, soul, and heart” of the brother bishops of the Church of Cyprus and that they may cast a “humane vote.”

But if the All-Holy God permits a trial similar to those mentioned above, be assured that “sooner or later, Heaven will speak,” as the contemporary, much-suffering Saint of our Church, Metropolitan Kallinikos of Edessa, Pella, and Almopia (August 1984), used to say — meaning that the Lord Himself will vindicate you.

“Stand firm, holy brother, like an anvil struck. It is the mark of a great athlete to be beaten and to conquer.”
(St. Ignatius the God-bearer to St. Polycarp of Smyrna)

Your brother in Christ,

+ Seraphim, Metropolitan of Kythira and Antikythira

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Previously, UOJ reported that Met. Tychikos was hospitalized after leaving the Phanar.