The faithful of Cyprus have expressed their support for Metropolitan Tihikos in an open letter

A group of the Orthodox faithful of Cyprus has published an open letter of declaration in support of His Eminence Metropolitan Tihikos of Paphos, expressing solidarity with his theological position on issues of ecclesiological purity, particularly with regard to the texts of the 2016 Council of Crete. In an appeal addressed to the fullness of the Church of Cyprus, the faithful see Metropolitan Tihikos as a confessor of faith.

According to Telegram channel SPJ, the document, signed by Chrysovalantis Besios, expresses «the deepest empathy for the crisis that has befallen the venerable personality of His Eminence Metropolitan Tihikos of former Paphos» and declares «unwavering spiritual support based on the purity of the Holy Father’s Tradition.»

The laity emphasize that Metropolitan Tikhikos’ theological position on issues of ecclesiological purity, especially with regard to the texts of the 2016 Council of Crete, «represents a fatherly confession and a call to sobriety.» The letter explains that «the objection to the use of the term ‘Church’ in relation to non-Orthodox communities is based on the immutable dogmatic rule of the One, Holy, Soborna and Apostolic Church.»

The authors of the appeal draw a parallel between Vladyka’s position and the exploits of the confessors of faith, recalling St. Mark of Ephesus, who refused to accept the Union of Florence, preserving the purity of the Orthodox faith. They emphasize that «in the era of syncretistic ecumenism, the defense of dogmatic rigor (akrivia) in the face of oikonomia (ecclesiastical indulgence) is the sacred duty of every bishop and serves as a vivid example of resisting the distortion of Orthodox consciousness.»

The faithful call on the entire Church to surround the suffering bishop with prayer and love, relying on the wise words of St. Paisios the Svyatogorets that ecclesiastical trials teach humility and true love. Concluding their address to Metropolitan Tikhikos, the authors state: «We see in you a confessor and pray that the Lord strengthen you in your further ministry, which, even in the absence of administrative powers, remains a source of holy Fathers’ teaching and spiritual testimony.»

Recall, earlier we reported that Metropolitan Tikhikos of Paphos was urgently hospitalized in one of the hospitals in Athens after a sharp deterioration of health. The incident occurred after his trip to Istanbul, from which he was strongly advised to refrain by doctors. From his hospital room, the hierarch recorded a video message asking for prayers