The Cyprus Orthodox Church on Thursday ordained Metropolitan Gregory (Ioannidis) as the new Metropolitan of Paphos during a solemn ceremony held at the Cathedral of St. Barnabas in Nicosia.

The ordination took place on the feast day of St. Barnabas, the founder and patron saint of the Church of Cyprus. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus and attended by Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, along with members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus.

During the service, Gregory was consecrated as bishop and formally installed as the elected head of the Paphos Metropolis. Following the laying on of hands by the bishops, clergy and faithful repeatedly proclaimed the traditional acclamation “Axios” (“Worthy”), marking the completion of the rite with applause.

According to Cypriot media reports, the ceremony was conducted under heightened security. Police escorted several supporters of former Metropolitan Tychikos out of the cathedral after they reportedly attempted to publicly protest the appointment of the new metropolitan. Additional supporters of the deposed hierarch gathered outside the church, where demonstrations had been announced in advance.

The leadership change in the Paphos Metropolis continues to generate debate across Cyprus. Critics of the decision argue that the removal of Metropolitan Tychikos was unjust, while supporters of Gregory have called for reconciliation and the restoration of unity within church life.

Later on Thursday, Gregory is scheduled to be enthroned at the Metropolitan Church of St. Theodore in Paphos. Archbishop Georgios and members of the Holy Synod are expected to attend the ceremony.

Gregory (Ioannidis), born in January 1973 in the village of Galata, was ordained deacon and later priest in 2007. For the past 19 years, he has served as protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Trimythous, overseeing educational and missionary initiatives and participating in several church commissions.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus elected Archimandrite Gregory as Metropolitan of Paphos on May 26, 2026.

The dispute surrounding the Paphos metropolitan see dates back to the spring of 2025, when the Holy Synod removed Metropolitan Tychikos from diocesan administration following disagreements over church governance and discipline. The decision was later upheld by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which serves as the highest appellate authority for the Church of Cyprus.

Tychikos became known for his conservative positions and his criticism of ecumenical initiatives and certain decisions of the archbishop and the Synod. Among the most notable points of contention were his refusal to participate in a joint episcopal liturgy in 2023 because of the commemoration of Orthodox Church of Ukraine leader Metropolitan Epiphanius, his opposition to sex education programs in schools, and his criticism of plans to bring relics of the Apostle Paul to Cyprus as part of joint events involving representatives of the Roman Catholic Church.

Despite the appointment of a new metropolitan, debate over Tychikos’ removal continues. His supporters have pledged to seek a review of the case, while the leadership of the Church of Cyprus maintains that the matter has been conclusively resolved in accordance with canonical procedures.