Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • The Power of a Backpack: A Short Film by FOCUS
    • Suprasl: Enhancing the Awareness of Unity – July 2025 Newsletter
    • Video: A Vision for Orthodox Christianity’s Future in North America
    • Another Attempt to Break the Silence: Why Orthodox Christians in America Must Stand with the Persecuted in Russia
    • Assembly of Bishops Newsletter – Q1 2025
    • Opinion: The Theological School’s Experiments
    • New Icon of All Saints of North America to Debut at 21st All-American Council
    • IOTA Future Leaders Program
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    • Home
    • OCL
      • About OCL
      • Leadership
      • OCL News
      • OCL Publications
      • Focused Study and Research Topics
      • OCL Archives at DePaul University
    • Orthodox News & Links
      • Orthodox News Stories
      • Headlines & News Archives
      • Governance & Unity
        • Governance Top Stories
        • Governance & Unity Essays
        • Grassroots Unity in Action
      • OCL Forums
      • Orthodox Christian Laity News
      • Web Links
    • Audio & Video
      • Audio Index
      • Video Index
    • Contact
    • Make a Donation
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    You are at:Home»Governance & Unity News»Pan-Orthodox Council to take decisions only upon consent of all Patriarchs

    Pan-Orthodox Council to take decisions only upon consent of all Patriarchs

    4
    By Webmaster on February 3, 2016 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Telegram WhatsApp Copy Link
    Metropolitan Hilarion, the chairman of Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations
    Metropolitan Hilarion, the chairman of Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations

    Source: TASS Russian News Agency

    The Russian Orthodox Church, with an estimated congregation of about 50 million believers, is the largest of the  canonical national Orthodox Churches.

    MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. The forthcoming Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church that is due to convene on the Isle of Crete this summer will endorse decisions only upon consent of all the fourteen Patriarchs of canonical national Orthodox Churches, Metropolitan Hilarion, the chairman of Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations said on Wednesday.

    “All the decisions at the Pan-Orthodox Council will be taken by consensus,” he said at a news conference upon the results of a session of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church.

    “This means each national Orthodox Church will have a delegation of twenty-four (or fewer but in no way more – TASS) bishops that will have one vote,” Metropolitan Hilarion said.

    All in all, representatives of all the fourteen commonly recognized Churches are expected to take part in the Council’s sessions, he said adding: “If at least one of them speaks out against any decision, it won’t be adopted. And if at least one Church disagrees with an opinion, it won’t be accepted.”

    The Metropolitan feels confident that “the Council will be held in a fraternal atmosphere that will enable us to discuss the problems, on which we have consensus.”

    “That’s why we put forward the idea of solving all the outstanding problems by consensus,” he said.

    Efforts to prepare the Pan-Orthodox Council started out as far back as in 1961 and have been proceeding with certain intervals ever since then. It is likely to become a milestone event for the entire Orthodox world.

    Each national Orthodox Church will send 24 bishops to the Council.

    Apart from the Russian Church, there are fifteen national or autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches that function independently of one another but are linked through liturgical communion with the Church of Constantinople (Turkey), the Church of Alexandria (Egypt), the Church of Antioch (Syria), the Church of Jerusalem, the Georgian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Cyprian, Helladic, Polish and Slovak Churches, and the American Church.

    The Russian Orthodox Church with an estimated congregation of about 50 million believers is the largest of them.

    The last officially recognized Pan-Orthodox Council, which is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Churches as an ecumenical one, took place in Constantinople in 879.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleOn the Great Council of the Orthodox Church
    Next Article The First Known American Convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity

    Related Posts

    July 8, 20251 Min Read

    Suprasl: Enhancing the Awareness of Unity – July 2025 Newsletter

    July 5, 20251 Min Read

    Video: A Vision for Orthodox Christianity’s Future in North America

    July 5, 20259 Mins Read

    Another Attempt to Break the Silence: Why Orthodox Christians in America Must Stand with the Persecuted in Russia

    4 Comments

    1. Robert Dale on February 29, 2016 4:33 pm

      I have believed and prayed for The One Holy Catholic Orthodox Church for 65 years,and I continue to pray “Thy Will be done”not my will. I ask that all who call themselves Orthodox Christians join me.

      Reply
      • Rev. Roberto Pouso on February 29, 2016 9:20 pm

        I THINK THAT A DEMOCRACY WAY IS BENEFICIAL FOR ALL CHURCHES.

        Reply
    2. David MacDowell Blue on March 1, 2016 5:52 pm

      Where is the Orthodox Church of America?

      Reply
    3. Ken Johnson on March 1, 2016 6:29 pm

      Well, let us hope that an independent American church will be approved. But I think the chances are next to impossible. With agreement required of all 14 voting churches, the odds of them all agreeing on anything – let alone relinquishing the power and revenue they derive from their proxies in “the new world” – are incalculable. As a member of the OCA, I look at the “old world” churches and see them rooted in countries and areas beset by war, poverty, despotism and backwardness. I believe most leadership, secular and religious, in these areas have no incentive to “give” America anything it may desire. Envy and fear continue to trump hope and love in our benighted world.

      Reply
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Register for OCL's Annual Conference - October 11, 2025

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Enter the Slogan Contest

    Share this page
    DISCLAIMER

    All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    Stay Informed!

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT!

    Your donation impacts and helps advance the unity of the Orthodox Church of America.

    DONATE NOW

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

    Upcoming Events
    Jul 16
    12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT

    John Zizioulas’s “Remembering the Future” (Virtual)

    View Calendar
    Recent Comments
    • Lou Gaviras on How will the Female Diaconate Help Prevent Abuse?
    • pERRY tORMAS on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Perry Tormas on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Myron Kaleras on How will the Female Diaconate Help Prevent Abuse?
    • Levantios on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • Jerry Maras on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • John on 90% OF PEOPLE OF GREEK DESCENT HAVE LEFT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
    • Jupiter's Son on Leading Liturgists Reaffirm the Ordination of Women to the Diaconate
    • Timothy Mulligan on Ethno-Phyletism: A Problem for the American Church
    • Angela Skinner on Orthodox Christian Unity in America – Papers in Support (New: See Paper No. 5)
    OCL Archives Online
    Project for Orthodox Renewal
    renewal-resize
    OCL Digital Newsletter

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    MAKE A DONATION

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Facebook
    Twitter
    YouTube

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2023 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2025 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.