PRESIDENT

† DEMETRIUS Metropolitan of America

MEMBERS

† PHOTIOS Metropolitan of Demetrias

† MOSES Metropolitan of Toronto

† AUXENTIOS Bishop of Etna and Portland

† CHRISTODOULOS Bishop of Theoupolis

† MAXIMUS Bishop of Pelagonia

HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD HEADQUARTERS

METROPOLIS OFFICES OF ST. CHRYSOSTOMOS THE NEW

106 Elm Street, Cobleskill, NY 12043, 

Tel: (001) 617-610-7323

The Holy Synod

The Holy Synod consists of the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece of the Church of the GOC and all Metropolitan Bishops and Bishops in Greece who are in active service. Retired Bishops and Assistant Bishops do not participate. It is chaired by the incumbent Archbishop of Athens, or, failing that, by the Vice President of the Holy Synod. It meets every month with the presence of at least half the number of the members of the Hierarchy who are resident in Greece and not chronically sick, and constitutes the only executive organ of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece.

The manner in which meetings of the Holy Synod are conducted, and the responsibilities of the Archbishop, the Vice President, the Chief Secretary, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary and the Intern Secretary are described in detail in the Special Rules for Meetings of the Holy Synod of the Church of the GOC of Greece.

The Holy Synod has specific responsibilities in the process of the election of Bishops and in the administration of Ecclesiastical Justice procedures, which are described in detail in the respective Special Rules.

The Holy Synod is the highest authentic organ of interpretation and application of the Holy Canons, and makes decisions on a case-by-case basis. Its decisions can only be revised by the Synod itself or the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy.

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy is composed of the members of the Holy Synod and also working Hierarchs who are active abroad.  Retired Bishops and Assistant Bishops do not participate. It is chaired by the incumbent Archbishop of Athens, or, failing that, by the Vice President of the Holy Synod. It meets every year, in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod, with the presence of at least three-quarters of the number of the members of the Hierarchy who are resident in Greece and not chronically sick.

The operational procedures of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy are described in detail in Special Rules for Meetings of the Holy Synod of the Church of the GOC of Greece.

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy has all the competencies of the Holy Synod and in addition deals with all key issues such as doctrinal questions, the election of Hierarchs, the acceptance of Hierarchs from other Ecclesiastical jurisdictions, relations with other homodox Churches of Genuine Orthodox Christians in other countries and their acceptance as autonomous or autocephalous Churches, and the issuance of canonical orders, Conciliatory Acts and Encyclicals, and in general constitutes the supreme legislative body of the Church of the GOC of Greece.

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy has specific responsibilities in the process of the election of Bishops and in the administration of Ecclesiastical Justice procedures, which are described in detail in the respective Special Rules.

The decisions of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy can only be revised by the Synod itself or by a Pan-Orthodox Synod of Genuine Orthodox Churches.