One of the key reasons behind the removal of Bishop Tychikos from his post as Metropolitan of Paphos was his refusal to recognise baptisms carried out by other Orthodox churches, insisting instead on rebaptising individuals already initiated into the faith.

His stance prompted serious concern at the highest levels of the Orthodox Church prompting his dismissal on Thursday. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction and asked Cyprus Archbishop Georgios to bring the bishop into line. The matter, according to church sources speaking to Philenews, damaged relations not only within the Orthodox Church but also with other Orthodox churches abroad.

A case submitted to the Holy Synod on May 12 offers insight into the controversy. It centres on a Cypriot-born university professor based in Chicago who had planned to hold his own church wedding and daughter’s baptism in his home village in Paphos.

His wife, formerly protestant and now Orthodox, had already been baptised in New York after nine months of catechism. A certificate of baptism had been issued by the Archdiocese of America and forwarded to the Metropolis of Paphos. Preparations for the church wedding and child’s baptism were underway, with a venue booked and invitations sent.

But problems arose when the professor’s parents visited the bishopric’s marriage and family office in Paphos. They were told that the documents were not sufficient and that his wife would have to be baptised again, despite already being received into the Orthodox church, in line with the practices of the American Archdiocese.

In his formal complaint, the professor stated that he had contacted the Metropolis but received only vague answers and was told to phone the office. After repeated attempts, he was informed that the bishop would need to meet his wife in person before any permission could be granted, an issue due to the family’s scheduled travel just before the wedding date.

He was later referred to another cleric who dismissed the original baptism as invalid, claiming Protestant sacraments were not recognised. The professor said this contradicted the guidance he had received from the church in America and revealed a troubling lack of consistency within the Orthodox Church.

He described the situation as deeply frustrating and damaging to his family’s faith and trust in the church. In his letter to church authorities, he asked for clarity and urged the Archdiocese of Cyprus to resolve the matter, submitting nine supporting documents in the process.

The incident is one of several reportedly cited in the church’s formal case against Bishop Tychikos, which also accused him of creating unnecessary divisions and failing to respect the authority of other canonical orthodox jurisdictions.

His removal is now seen as part of a broader effort by church leadership to ensure unity and respect across all branches of the Orthodox faith.