The Church of Cyprus is set to revive the transfer of the Apostle Paul relic to Paphos this October, following a halt initiated by the suspended Metropolitan Tychikos.
- The Church of Cyprus is set to revive the transfer of the Apostle Paul relic to Paphos this October, following a halt initiated by the suspended Metropolitan Tychikos.
This long-anticipated move is expected to gain momentum with Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios’s upcoming visit to the Vatican. Accompanying him will be the new Metropolitan of Paphos, Grigorios, who has a strong connection with the Vatican due to his postgraduate studies in Eastern ecclesiastical sciences.
The plan to bring the relic to Paphos has been contentious, particularly between Archbishop Georgios and his predecessor, Tychikos. Paphos was chosen as the destination because it was the site where the Apostle Paul first preached, marking a significant historical and spiritual return.
The initial push for the relic’s transfer came from the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II, with the support of Georgios before he ascended to the archiepiscopal throne. However, Tychikos’s refusal to receive the relic—stemming from his belief that the Pope is a heretic—created a rift with Archbishop Georgios. This disagreement led to plans being shelved, though the topic resurfaced following inquiries from the media.
In comments to Phileleftheros, Archbishop Georgios elaborated on the situation, stating that the relic had never before left the Vatican. He expressed hope that bringing it to Paphos would create a global event, emphasising the significance of the Apostle returning to the place of his preaching.
The Archbishop recounted how Pope Francis, moved by his friendship with the late Archbishop and a personal appeal made by Georgios, had eventually agreed to the relic’s transfer. However, following his ascension to archbishop, Georgios faced opposition from Tychikos, who insisted on maintaining his stance against the transfer.
When pressed about Tychikos’s refusal, Georgios clarified that it was not a matter of the Pope visiting Paphos but rather the relic itself. He reiterated that the Metropolitan of Paphos’s concerns had made it impossible to reach an agreement on the transfer.
Despite the complexities and disagreements, the upcoming visit to the Vatican by Archbishop Georgios signals a renewed effort to bring the Apostle Paul’s relic back to Paphos, reaffirming its historical and spiritual importance to the Church of Cyprus.
