The countdown for the new Metropolitan of Paphos to assume his duties has now begun, as the former Metropolitan of Paphos Tychikos left the small apartment in which he resided within the precincts of the Holy Metropolis of Paphos on Wednesday afternoon.
According to ecclesiastical sources, Bishop Tychikos left the premises after having previously received all his personal belongings, in compliance with the relevant arrangements that had been made in view of the assumption of duties by the new Metropolitan of Paphos, Archimandrite Grigorios Ioannides. According to the same information, employees of the Holy Metropolis found that the keys to the apartment had been left on the door, while the apartment had already been evacuated.
The departure of the former Metropolitan is considered another step in the preparation for the enthronement of the new Bishop of Paphos, which has been set for June 11, 2026 at 18:00 PM at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Theodore of Paphos.
Despite his departure from the Metropolis, Bishop Tychikos has still not announced his final intentions regarding where he will settle in the near future. It is recalled that the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus has presented him with three alternative options.
The first and most prevalent, according to ecclesiastical circles, concerns his transfer to the Archdiocese of Cyprus in Nicosia, where he will continue to serve in his capacity as Bishop. This specific proposal reportedly emerged after consultations between the Archbishop of Cyprus and members of the Holy Synod, with the aim of ensuring smooth continuity and ecclesiastical peace.
At the same time, the possibility of him residing in a privately owned residence in the Paphos district has been put on the table. A third option is to rent another place of residence, with the relevant cost being covered through deductions from his earnings.
At the same time, the Church of Cyprus is intensively preparing for the rituals that will precede and accompany the enthronement of the new Metropolitan.
In statements to CNA, the Spokesperson of the Church of Cyprus, Christakis Efstathiou, expressed the wish that all procedures will develop in a climate of peace, cooperation and mutual respect. As he said, everyone's desire is for there to be cooperation on the part of Bishop Tychikos with the new Metropolitan of Paphos, in order to create a fertile environment for the future of the local Church.
Mr. Efstathiou explained that the official church ceremonies will begin on June 10, 2026 at 18:00 PM with the great declaration, a special and devout ceremony that is a key part of the process of assuming the metropolitan throne.
During the ceremony, the Secretary of the Holy Synod will officially read the decision to elect the new Metropolitan of Paphos, which has already been taken by the Holy Synod. Subsequently, Archimandrite Grigorios Ioannides will officially declare that he accepts the election and his new duties as Metropolitan of Paphos.
As part of the same ceremony, the new Metropolitan will deliver a brief thank-you speech, which, according to the Church's Press Secretary, will be thematically linked to the enthronement speech he will deliver the following day during his official enthronement ceremony in Paphos.
The events will continue on the morning of June 11, the day on which the Church honors the memory of the Apostle Barnabas, founder of the Church of Cyprus. As Mr. Efstathiou mentioned, an archiepiscopal mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas, in the presence of all the Hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus, in accordance with the ecclesiastical tradition that accompanies important events of the hierarchy.
The choice of this particular day has, according to ecclesiastical circles, special symbolism due to its connection with the founder of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus.
In the afternoon of the same day, at 18:00, the official enthronement ceremony will take place at the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agios Theodore of Paphos, which is the seat of the Metropolitan of Paphos. There, the new Patriarch will deliver his enthronement speech and officially assume his duties.
Concluding his statements, Mr. Efstathiou expressed the hope that, even at the last moment, Bishop Tychikos will accept the Church's suggestion for his installation in the Archdiocese of Cyprus, a development that, according to ecclesiastical plans, will contribute to maintaining normality and unity during this transitional period for the Holy Metropolis of Paphos.
Source: KYPE
