[ditty_news_ticker id="27897"] THE HOLY AND GREAT SYNOD WILL TAKE PLACE IN CRETE IN JUNE 2016 - Orthodox Christian Laity
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THE HOLY AND GREAT SYNOD WILL TAKE PLACE IN CRETE IN JUNE 2016

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Synaxis at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva

Synaxis at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva

Source: MYSTAGOGY

The Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church will meet in June this year, according to the Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency (ANA-MPA).

A decision was made as the Primates are gathered in a Synaxis at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva, whose work is done under the presidency of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Of course, for the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church to meet in June, during the period of Pentecost (06/19/2016), the Primates in Geneva must definitely choose the themes and regulations.

The decision to convene the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church in Crete, rather than at the headquarters (Constantinople) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, was dictated by the “exceptional objective circumstances” (i.e. the recent Russo-Turkish crisis), which basically prevents the Moscow Patriarch Kyrill and his delegation from visiting the City. That is why this Synaxis of Primates is meeting in Geneva and not in the Phanar, as originally planned.

The gathering in Geneva involves eleven of the fourteen Primates, with their delegations. Three are missing: Patriarch John of Antioch, Metropolitan Savvas of Warsaw and All Poland for health reason, and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece for personal reasons. The work of the Synaxis will continue until January 28th.

The convocation, “barring the unexpected,” of the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church this year in Constantinople was decided in March 2014 at the Synaxis of the Primates, which had gathered at the Phanar.

The themes of the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church includes the following ten topics:

1. The Orthodox Diaspora.

2. The manner in which Autocephaly is assigned.

3. The manner of the administration of Autonomy in semi-independent Churches within the limits of Autocephalous Churches, such as the Orthodox Church of Finland under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

4. The Diptychs. This is the order of the Autocephalous Churches, according to honor and ranking, by which the Primates are commemorated. The order of the Churches may change. (For example, the Church of Cyprus, although it is one of the most ancient and was recognized by the Third Ecumenical Synod in Ephesus in 431, is tenth in the order, having been surpassed by Patriarchates, which have been granted Autocephaly in recent times by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and not by an Ecumenical Synod.)

5. The issue of a common Calendar. Some Orthodox Churches still use the Old Julian Calendar (such as the Patriarchate of Russia and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, etc.), while others have adopted the Revised Julian Calendar (such as the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Churches of Cyprus, Greece, Albania, etc.). The Synod should promote a common practice.

6. Canonical marriage impediments, especially in the case of Inter-Christian marriages.

7. Fasting. Ex. Should the canons for fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays be changed?

8. The relationship of the Orthodox Churches with the rest of the Christian world.

9. Orthodoxy and the Ecumenical Movement.

10. The contribution of local Orthodox Churches in the prevalence of Christian ideals of peace, freedom, brotherhood and love among people and removing racial and other discrimination.

Of the ten issues, only eight have been approved by Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conferences, while the two concerning Autocephaly and the Diptychs have not yet been approved. Together with this the regulations for the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church must be discussed these days in Geneva and the final decisions are critical. Some Churches are asking to postpone the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his introductory speech at the opening session of the Synaxis in Geneva, stressed that “the great responsibility belongs to us now, without further delay, to convert this vision [of the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church]into a reality.”

 * Update: According to the latest reports, it seems like the issues of the Diptychs, Autocephaly and the Calendar will be postponed for another future Pan-Orthodox Synod.
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5 Comments

  1. The term “Orthodox Diaspora” is just WRONG! The Orthodox in America aren’t in a diaspora. We don’t belong to another country nor are we going back to our ancestral countries. Our country is the United States and we have our own bishops. Foreign bishops have no authority in the U.S., according to Orthodox Canon Law. THERE IS NO DIASPORA! Neither Istanbul, nor Moscow, nor Antioch/Damascus nor any other foreign hierarch has authority outside their own territory.

    • Tom,

      Apparently, the three important topics for discussion at the proposed synod have been postponed for another Great Synod that may take place most likely in the year 3016. (Update: According to the latest reports, it seems like the issues of the Diptychs, Autocephaly and the Calendar will be postponed for another future Pan-Orthodox Synod.)

      So, if you’re hoping for an American, Western-oriented Orthodox Church that’s not treated as a church in “diaspora”, you’ll have to wait for the next millennium. Sorry!

  2. Why do dyptichs matter? Really. What good reason, in the 21st Century, do these things matter other than when heads-of-churches serve?

    Didn’t someone say something about the last being first? Isn’t the head servant to be the most sacrificial?

    Here’s an easy way to do it. When you’re the Primate of a Church and you go somewhere, YOU get to be first and when you host, your GUEST gets to be first.

    Many of these men are cowards, unwilling to submit and let-go – this seems to be the opposite of our Christian calling.

    Like they’ve earned their spot in the center of the church, on the cushy chair, or in front of the altar?

    Lunacy. I think “the Grace Divine” has taken a vacation.

    -Nick

    • -Nick,

      The “Grace Divine” is on an extended leave of absence in the Orthodox Church. Your comments are well stated.

  3. To understand the “Diptychs” people have to understand their origin. The term refers to official lists of the living and departed that are commemorated by the local church. The living would be inscribed on one wing of the diptych, and the departed on the other. The inscribing of a bishop’s name in the diptychs means that the local church considers itself to be in communion with him, the removal of a bishop’s name would indicate breaking communion with him. The names in the diptychs would be read publicly by the deacon during the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist), and by the priest during the Liturgy of Preparation. Diptychs were also used to inscribe the names of the saints. Now, there is an order in the “Diptychs.” For instance, when you see an icon of Christ seated on His throne in glory, to His right immediately is His mother and on His left is St. John the Baptist. After them are the Holy Apostles and saints accordingly. So, in the Church “on earth,” an order of recognition was made of the Bishops (Patriarchs) in the Roman/Byzantine Empire. Rome was originally 1st, but fell into heresy and therefore, Constantinople became 1st in order. Then Alexandria, then Antioch, then Jerusalem, etc. Now, this “order” was “symbolic” of ecclesiastical order of “all the equals.” Constantinople became the “1st among equals.” Giving this bishop the right to chair the meetings with all the Patriarchs, keep the official records and mediate disputes between the Patriarchs. NOW, + Bart wants to use the “Diptychs” as a manner of “church organization” around the world. THIS IS AN INNOVATION AND NOT APOSTOLIC. Why? So all Greek bishops worldwide would have “PRIMACY” over all other bishops. It’s a POWER-GRAB by + Bart. Not according to Orthodox Canon Law nor according the Apostolic Tradition!

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