The Supreme Court of Cyprus has refused to hear the case of former Metropolitan Tichikos of Paphos

On July 9, 2026, the Supreme Court of Cyprus rejected a petition filed by former Metropolitan Tichikos of Paphos, who had sought to challenge the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s decision to depose him. The court ruled that civil courts do not have jurisdiction to review the legality of decisions and procedures of ecclesiastical courts and synods.

According to Orthodoxia.info, the former hierarch sought to overturn the resolution of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate dated October 17, 2025, which ratified the decision of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus to defrock him. In his appeal, Metropolitan Tichik cited alleged procedural violations, abuse of power, bias in the consideration of his case, and violations of the principles of natural law.

During the proceedings, the plaintiff insisted that, although civil courts lack the authority to interfere with the substance of church dogmas, the state must be able to review the procedural legitimacy of church decisions. However, the court rejected these arguments. According to the ruling, based on Article 155.4 of the Constitution of Cyprus, ecclesiastical courts are not subject to oversight by state authorities.

The Supreme Court emphasized that neither the Statute of the Church of Cyprus nor any other legal provisions grant secular judges the right to review final decisions of synods. As a result, the petition was dismissed without the need to consider the merits of all the arguments presented, since the issue of the court’s jurisdiction became a key obstacle to further proceedings.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the Supreme Court of Cyprus had partially granted the appeal of former Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos, thereby allowing him to challenge in court the decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople regarding his removal. At the same time, the court denied a request to extend the deadline for appealing the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus.