Ecumenical Patriarchate Elects Two New Bishops: Archimandrite Ambrosios Stampliakas Named Bishop Of Sinope

Ecumenical Patriarchate Elects Two New Bishops: Archimandrite Ambrosios Stampliakas Named Bishop Of Sinope, Cyprus Holy Synod Suspends Former Metropolitan Tychikos Indefinitely

Holy And Sacred Synod Under Patriarch Bartholomew Elects Auxiliary Bishops For France And Sweden Metropolises, Cyprus Church Disciplines Paphos Metropolitan For Civil Court Appeal

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate convened Thursday January 8 2026 under presidency of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to examine matters on its agenda and proceeded with election of two new auxiliary bishops. The Synod elected Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis as Bishop of Elaia who will serve as auxiliary bishop to the Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia.

Archimandrite Ambrosios Stampliakas was elected Bishop of Sinope assuming duties as auxiliary bishop to the Metropolis of France.

Prior to elections at the opening of the Synodal session traditional festive greetings for the New Year were exchanged between Ecumenical Patriarch and Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon in a spirit of ecclesiastical communion and goodwill.

Newly elected Bishop Stampliakas born 1978 in Kozani was ordained diacre in 2002 and priest in 2007, serving as archimandrite in Metropolis of Servia and Kozani. He was transferred to Metropolis of Thessaloniki in 2015 before being detached to Holy Metropolis of France as chancellor in 2021. The Bishop will serve as auxiliary to Metropolitan Dimitrios of France carrying out pastoral ministry within framework of Holy Metropolis of France.

Cyprus Holy Synod Suspends Former Metropolitan Tychikos For Civil Court Appeal Over Removal

The Holy Synod of Cyprus indefinitely suspended former Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos following his decision to appeal to civil courts over his removal from the Paphos bishopric. Archbishop George of Cyprus described Bishop Tychikos's appeal to civil courts as a new serious development noting it is outside the practice of the Church.

The Holy Synod decided to impose indefinite suspension until Tychikos submits specific Confession of Faith requested by Holy Synod, withdraws his legal appeal or intention to appeal to civil courts, condemns apoteichismos or separation from Church, accepts new duties within Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus as assigned by Archbishop, and ceases actions causing unrest and scandal within Church.

Metropolitan Tychikos was removed from Paphos bishopric at emergency synod session in May 2025 following disputes with Archbishop Georgios over church protocol including refusal to allow mixed marriages and stance requiring all converts to be baptized. Archbishop described Tychikos's anti communion stance as endangering Church of Cyprus relationships with other Orthodox Churches.

TAKE ACTION

• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese: Support Orthodox Church unity through goarch.org as Ecumenical Patriarchate under Patriarch Bartholomew strengthens European metropolises with auxiliary bishop appointments in France and Sweden maintaining pastoral care for faithful

• Orthodox Christian Fellowship: Give at ocf.net supporting young Orthodox Christians and seminary students like newly elected bishops who serve Church through pastoral ministry, theological education, and ecclesiastical administration across Ecumenical Patriarchate jurisdictions

• International Orthodox Christian Charities: Donate at iocc.org providing humanitarian relief through Orthodox Church networks including Metropolises of France and Sweden strengthened by new auxiliary bishop appointments for refugee support and crisis response

• Orthodox Metropolitanate Of France: Learn about Orthodox Christianity in France where Bishop Ambrosios Stampliakas will serve as auxiliary to Metropolitan Dimitrios at orthodoxie.com supporting growing Orthodox communities throughout French territory

• Prayer For Church Unity: Pray for resolution of Cyprus Church dispute as former Metropolitan Tychikos faces indefinite suspension for appealing to civil courts, that canonical order be restored and ecclesiastical communion maintained across Orthodox jurisdictions