The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church is to hold its last session this year December 24

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Sign-In | Sign-Up | Contact Us | Bookmark

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church is to hold its last session this year December 24. Talking to RIA Novosti, officials at the Moscow Patriarchate's department of external church relations noted that Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia will preside over this session. The session's agenda will not be made public in line with a long-standing tradition. The Holy Synod, which comprises seven full-time and five temporary members from among the Russian Orthodox Church's bishops, is a collective body subordinated to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The Holy Synod adopts highly important church-life decisions in between the sessions of the Archbishops Council. The Holy Synod meets several times a year; as a rule, one of its sessions takes place at the end of each year. The Holy Synod passes decisions on all issues of public importance, also electing and rotating bishops, appointing monastery-and-convent priors and mothers-superior. Moreover, the Holy Synod decides on the establishment of new dioceses, opening new monasteries, convents, seminaries and academies, too. As of today, the Russian Orthodox Church consists of 132,000 dioceses, 167 bishops, 652 active monasteries and convents, more than 26,500 parishes, five seminaries, three divinity colleges, as well as 70 divine seminaries and schools.

Bookmark The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church is to hold its last session this year December 24