In Cyprus, enthronement of new Metropolitan of Paphos held amid protests

Enthronement of the new Paphos hierarch. Photo: Union of Orthodox Journalists in Greece

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus enthroned the new Metropolitan of Paphos, Gregorios, on June 12, 2026, at St. Theodore’s Cathedral in Paphos. This was reported by the UOJ in Greece.

The rite was led by Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus in the presence of hierarchs, clergy, and state and local officials.

At the same time, supporters of former Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos gathered outside the church perimeter. As the Archbishop and the new metropolitan arrived, they shouted “Unworthy!” and “Out!” Police set up cordons and prevented the protesters from entering the cathedral grounds. According to available reports, believers who were to support the new metropolitan were brought to the ceremony by buses from Nicosia, and they were the ones allowed inside the church.

According to the UOJ, the clergy of the Paphos Metropolis largely ignored the ceremony. Only about 10% of priests attended the enthronement.

The protesters remained throughout the entire ceremony. Their chants intensified as officials arrived and departed, creating what eyewitnesses described as a picture of deep division within the local church community.

As the UOJ reported, the Archbishop of Cyprus banned Metropolitan Tychikos from celebrating services. The conflict over the Paphos see has been ongoing for some time: Metropolitan Tychikos has insisted on the legitimacy of his tenure and appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, but the Synod of the Church of Cyprus decided to replace him.

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