Demos Serkelides was defrocked on Wednesday after the Holy Synod voted to depose him for repeatedly disparaging Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus.
Serkelides had openly and persistently criticised both the archbishop and the Holy Synod over their handling of the case of ousted Bishop of Paphos Tychikos, who was charged with multiple breaches of church protocol. These included venerating an icon depicting a saint not officially recognised by the Orthodox Church.
According to the indictment, Serkelides also made derogatory remarks about the ecumenical patriarchate and Patriarch Bartholomew himself.
The Paphos-based cleric appeared before the six-member church court on Wednesday, accompanied by his lawyer and defence witness, Seraphim Zisis, a monk from Thessaloniki.
The court unanimously ruled in favour of his deposition.
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