Holy Synod of Greece
The Holy Synod of Greece was formed after the newly independent nation of Greece was established in the 1820s. The independence of the Church of Greece and its synod were recognized by the Church of Constantinople in 1850. The Holy Synod of Greece is the highest governing body of the Church of Greece with supreme authority vested in the synod of all the diocesan bishops under the presidency of the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece. A Standing Synod that consists of the Primate and twelve bishops, each serving for one term on a rotating basis, handles details of administration.
Contents
Standing members
The members for the 155th Synodical Period (2011-2012)
- Ieronymos of Athens, President
- Nektarios of Kerkira and Paxi
- Pavlos of Glifada
- Ioil of Eddesa, Pella and Almopia
- Epifanios of Thira, Amorgos and Nison
- Ierotheos of Zihni and Nevrokopi
- Hrisostomos of Heleftheroupolis
- Pavlos of Servia and Kozani
- Nikolaos of Mesogea and Lavreotiki
- Anthimos of Alexandroupolis
- Varnavas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis
- Chryssostomos of Patra
- Serafreim of Kithira
Chief Secretary
- Gabriel of Diavleias
Ecclesiastical organisations
- Apostolic Ministration (Apostoliki Diakonia)
- Communication and Cultural Service
- Inter-Orthodox Centre
- Foundation of Byzantine Musicology
- Welfare Fund of Parish Clergy
Synodical committees
The Holy Synod is organised into two key synodical committee areas. The first area is broken into committee groups that deal with standard issues such as:
- Ecclesiastical art, music and Christian monuments
- Divine worship and pastoral work
- Doctrinal and nomocanonical matters
- Monastic life
- Christian education and youth
- Inter-orthodox and Christian relations
- Ecclesiastical education and training of parish clergy
- Press, public relations and enlightenment
- Heresies
- Social welfare and charity
- Finance
Special synodical committee groups deal with issues such as:
- Women's issues
- Monitoring European affairs
- Bioethics
- Academy of Ecclesiastical arts
- Human rights
- Marriage, family, child protection and demographic issues
- pastoral matters and situations
- Divine and secular dispensation and ecology
- Liturgical rebirth
- Cultural identity
- Study of ancient cults and new paganism
- Pilgrim and religious tours