Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] On March 17–20, 2025, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its 2025 Regular Spring Session in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The Holy Synod met at the Hilton Springfield, beginning with an Opening Molieben on Tuesday morning. His Beatitude offered introductory remarks, followed by his report. The Holy Synod then heard reports and updates on a range of internal Church matters, including the Archdiocese of Washington and relocation planning, as well as the stavropegial institutions. Diocesan reports were received throughout the sessions.…
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Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos Originally published on February 22, 2025 BOSTON – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has proceeded with the recomposition of the Holy Synod of the Phanar for its next six-month period, from March 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025. From the Archdiocese of America, the newly elected Metropolitan of Atlanta, Sevastianos, will participate in this Synodal period. The Holy Synod consists of twelve members, following the model of Christ’s disciples, and convenes once a month at the Phanar under the presidency of Patriarch Bartholomew, who determines the agenda. The duration of the meetings depends on the…
Source: Basilica.ro Originally published on October 26, 2024 by Aurelian Iftimiu The working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church was conducted on Friday, October 25, 2024, in the Aula Magna “Patriarch Teoctist” of the Patriarchal Palace, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. Following the elections for the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Ireland and Iceland, the Holy Synod adopted several resolutions concerning pastoral care for Romanians in the country and abroad, including the following: The year 2026 was declared the “Solemn Year of Pastoral Care for the…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] On November 4-7, 2024, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Fall 2024 Session in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The meeting began on Tuesday, November 5, with an opening Molieben and introductory remarks from His Beatitude, followed by an overview of the Fall Session. The Holy Synod addressed various matters, including updates from Synodal Offices and Committees, discussions on the Canonization Commission — particularly the glorification of Matushka Olga. Dates surrounding her upcoming glorification were decided upon and will be made public…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has dismissed Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago from his position on the Holy Synod of the Phanar through a pittakion—an official Patriarchal letter—without providing any explanation, The National Herald has learned. The Patriarchal letter, exclusively obtained by The National Herald, states: “Most Reverend Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, beloved brother in the Holy Spirit and co-liturgist of Our Modesty, grace to Your Eminence and peace from God. Through these Patriarchal Letters, we inform Your Eminence that, for reasons held by Our Modesty, we relieve you of your Synodal duties,…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] On April 2-4, 2024, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Spring 2024 Session in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The meetings of the Synod were preceded by a special joint meeting in which the Bishops were joined by the Church Officers, the Diocesan Chancellors, the General Counsel, and representatives of the Pension Board. The joint meeting began on Monday, April 1, with an education session led by Mr. David Jarrett, FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA, Principal and Consulting Actuary. This presentation…
Source: Ekathimerini.com Greece’s Orthodox bishops have voted unanimously to reject planned government legislation for marriage equality that would also allow for the adoption of children by same-sex couples. A meeting of the Holy Synod further decided to address an open letter to all 300 members of parliament outlining the church’s objections to the proposed legislation. The letter will also be read out in churches across the country on February 4. In a statement, the Synod said that while it is the state’s responsibility to legislate, “this parameter neither deprives the church of freedom of speech, nor relieves the church of…
Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA On Wednesday, October 11, the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate met at the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. The meeting had not been previously announced. The minutes of the meeting can be read at (link). Changes were made in three important positions of the Moscow Patriarchate. The first change is that Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea is retired by the Holy Synod. See Journal entry 92. The retirement of Metropolitan Lazar is not a surprise. He was born in 1939 (thus 84 years old) and has served as the head of the Simferopol and Crimea diocese…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – In this article, The National Herald exclusively reveals part of the confidential report of what was said and discussed during the meeting at the Phanar between Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the metropolitans who are members of the Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America, including Archbishop Elpidophoros, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, on the issue of the Archdiocesan Charter. The report consists of twelve pages, is dated May 29, 2023, and is signed by Archimandrite Aetius, Ecclesiarch and Director of the Patriarchal Office. Today we are publishing some sections of the…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has appointed Metropolitan Evangelos of Sardis as a member of the Holy Synod of the Phanar for a one-year tenure starting March 1, 2023. Archbishop Elpidophoros is also a member of the Synod during the current Synodic period. Metropolitan Evangelos served as the duly and canonically elected Metropolitan of the Metropolis of New Jersey for seventeen years, from his election and enthronement on May 11, 2003, until October 8, 2020. Under his leadership the Metropolis of New Jersey, for the first time, acquired its Metropolis Center in the…
Source: Orthodox Church in America BETHESDA, MD [OCA] On March 15th to 18th the Holy Synod met for its regular Spring 2022 Session in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. The meetings took place in three locations: Saint Mark Church in Bethesda, MD on Tuesday, March 15, Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC on Wednesday, March 16, and the remaining meetings at the Bethesdan Hotel in Bethesda, MD. On the evening of Monday the 14th, the Holy Synod hosted a reception inviting the local clergy of the various parishes of the Orthodox Church in America within the greater Washington area. On Tuesday…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, concluded its Fall 2021 Session on Wednesday and Thursday, December 15-16, 2021. The Fall Session opened in Cleveland, OH on October 21 immediately following the Joint Expanded Meeting with the Metropolitan Council. Due to the continuing pandemic, the meeting was held by video conference. The meeting agenda included hearing the reports from Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor, Priest Alessandro Margheritino, Secretary, and Mr. Andrew Smith, Treasurer. The…