An old city in Cyprus, Paphos, has a problem. A new bishop must be chosen soon. The election is difficult because the old bishop, Tychikos, is still there. Church rules say new elections are needed. This is according to reports from Friday. Tensions are high after a recent protest.
Tychikos was removed last year in May. He has not left the bishop's building. He says he will not leave without an official order. Archbishop Georgios wants to solve this problem. He may ask the police to search the building. This would be a strong step to end the disagreement.
Church rules are the main reason for these events. Church officials say Tychikos's punishment is correct. Most of the Holy Synod agrees with this. Therefore, the rules say an election must happen now. The position of bishop in Paphos is empty.
About twenty-five people protested on Thursday. They support Tychikos. They shouted that "Tychikos is worthy." However, one person disagreed. This person said, "if he were worthy, he would have left." This shows there are different opinions in the church.
Archbishop Georgios has a plan for the church. He wants to change church rules later. He wants the Holy Synod to choose bishops. This is different from how it is done now. Many church members now have a say. This change would give more power to senior clergy.
There are empty seats in the Holy Synod. This makes changing rules now hard. So, the election for Paphos must happen first. The current problem and the coming election are making people feel worried. The election will fill the bishop's position. It may also lead to big changes in how the church is run in Cyprus.