Supreme Court grants Tychikos partial success in appeal regarding defrocking

On June 10, 2026, the Supreme Court of Cyprus issued a decision on the appeal filed by former Metropolitan of Paphos, Tychikos, regarding his removal from office. The court examined a lower court ruling that had previously rejected his request to extend the deadline for challenging his defrocking. Tychikos was defrocked by the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus on May 22, 2025, a decision later ratified by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on October 17, 2025. The three-judge appellate panel, consisting of judges Demetriadou-Andreou, David, and Panagiotou, reached a unanimous verdict. The court dismissed the appeal concerning the Church of Cyprus decision but ruled partially in his favor regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate's decision. It granted him a deadline extension to file for a writ of certiorari regarding the Patriarchate's ruling. The court reasoned that while Tychikos was aware of the proceedings, he was unable to obtain a copy of the Patriarchate's decision within the 45-day deadline through no fault of his own. Consequently, he is permitted to proceed with a legal challenge specifically against the Patriarchate's ratification.