“Banned legally, remains in the ministry nominally": In the Cypriot Church reacted to the appeal of the Metropolitan of Paphos to the head of the Phanar

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus responded to the information about the appeal of Metropolitan Tykhikos of Paphos, which he addressed to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in response to his removal by the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. The Church of Cyprus noted that despite such a step by Metropolitan Tikhik, the decision of the Synod remains in force, and the episcopal rank of Metropolitan of Paphos is nominal. This was reported by The Orthodox Times.

“Since the media have commented on the suspension of the decision of the Holy Synod, the continued stay of Bishop Tykhikos on the throne of the Metropolis of Paphos and the termination of the powers of the Archbishop as a locum tenens on the basis of the Church Statute, we clarify the following: First, a hierarch sentenced to a punishment involving deprivation of the priesthood, removal from the throne, or suspension leading to removal has the right to file an ecclesiastical appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Article 81). Secondly, only the penalties of deposition and great excommunication justify the suspension of the penalty during the pendency of the appeal and until the final decision is rendered. (Criminal Procedure, Part B, Article 46; see also Article 82 of the Statute). The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus imposed on Bishop Tykhikos the penalty of suspension from administrative and pastoral duties for canonical reasons, leaving him in the episcopal rank conditionally. Since he was not subjected to defrocking or major excommunication, the decision of the Holy Synod has no suspensive effect. Accordingly, His Beatitude, Archbishop George of Cyprus, remains the locum tenens of the Metropolitan Throne of Paphos,” — the Church of Cyprus said in a statement.