Archbishop George of Cyprus will meet with former Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos

A meeting between Archbishop George of Cyprus and former Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos is expected to take place in the coming days, aimed at resolving a long-standing ecclesiastical dispute. According to the Orthodoxia News Agency, the talks were made possible by mediation efforts that were reported at a recent meeting of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus.

Archdiocese spokesperson Christakis Evstathiou explained that during the Synod meeting, a letter from the former metropolitan was read aloud, in which he expressed his doubts and sense of injustice regarding previously made decisions. According to Mr. Evstathiou, this meeting is of the utmost importance, as the further development of the situation depends on its outcome. Church authorities hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasizing that the prolonged uncertainty is wearing on the faithful and hindering the restoration of peace within the church.

At this time, the exact date of the meeting has not been set, but it is expected to take place in the near future. A spokesperson for the archdiocese expressed cautious optimism, recalling previous unsuccessful attempts at reconciliation. The main topic of discussion will be the former metropolitan’s willingness to recognize the current bishop’s status, as well as to accept obligations related to the church hierarchy and conciliarity. If a consensus is reached, the parties may discuss assigning the former metropolitan new episcopal duties acceptable to both sides, after which he is expected to address the members of the Holy Synod in person.

As a reminder, we previously reported that a threat of schism is looming in the Cypriot Orthodox Church due to the crisis in the Metropolis of Paphos.