Overview
The first of its kind in 1200 years, the Holy and Great Council will meet in Crete June 16-27, 2016 and gathers representatives from the 14 autocephalous (internally self-governing) Orthodox Churches to discuss issues ranging from the mission of the Orthodox Church in the modern world and its relations with other Christian churches, to the importance of fasting and the sacrament of marriage.
Official Documents
Encyclical of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church
An encyclical regarding the topics discussed by the delegations of the Holy and Great Council.
Official Documents
Message of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church
A message from the Holy and Great Council to the Orthodox people and to all people of good will.
The Agenda
Among the ten themes on the agenda of the Holy and Great Council, two could not reach a consensus at the meetings of inter-Orthodox preparatory commissions, despite many efforts. This is the question of autocephaly and the manner of its proclamation and the question of the diptychs. The Synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches met in Chambésy in January 2016 decided that these two issues will not be examined by the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, but will be during another subsequent council. This Synaxis has even decided to remove the issue of the calendar from the agenda because some local Orthodox Churches have stated that they do not desire and are not ready for a calendar reform.
Moreover, the Synaxis considerably reworked the text on the impediments to marriage that is now entitled “The sacrament of marriage and its impediments.” This text was not signed by the Churches of Antioch and of Georgia. The Church of Antioch did not sign also the decisions of the Synaxis of 2016. Bearing in mind that the two texts on the relationship of the Orthodox Church to the ecumenical movement and the relationship of the Orthodox Church with the Christian world had been combined into one, it resulted that the six items on the agenda of the Council, approved by the 2016 Synaxis, with the relevant texts are:
The Mission of the Orthodox Church in Today’s World
The contribution of the Orthodox Church in realizing peace, justice, freedom, fraternity and love between peoples, and in the removal of racial and other discriminations.
The Orthodox Diaspora
Pursuant to article 16 of the Rules of Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conferences, this conference discussed the relevant documents submitted in 1990 and 1993 by the Inter-Orthodox Preparatory Commission.
Autonomy And The Means By Which It Is Proclaimed
This article discusses the ecclesiological, canonical, and pastoral aspects of the institution of autonomy and sought a unanimous pan-Orthodox position on the matter.
The Sacrament of Marriage and its Impediments
The Synaxis considerably reworked the text on the impediments to marriage that is now entitled “The sacrament of marriage and its impediments.” This text was not signed by the Churches of Antioch and of Georgia.
The Importance of Fasting and Its Observance Today
Fasting is a divine commandment. According to Basil the Great, fasting is as old as humanity itself; it was prescribed in paradise. It is a great spiritual endeavor and the foremost expression of the Orthodox ascetic ideal.
Relations of the Orthodox Church with the Rest of the Christian World
The Orthodox Church, as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, in her profound ecclesiastical conscience, firmly believes that she maintains a central place in matters pertaining to the promotion of unity among Christians in the contemporary world.
Churches
- Ecumenical Patriarchate (Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew)
- Patriarchate of Alexandria (Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria)
- Patriarchate of Antioch (Patriarch John of Antioch)
- Patriarchate of Jerusalem (Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem)
- Church of Russia (Patriarch Kirill of Moscow)
- Church of Serbia (Patriarch Irinej of Serbia)
- Church of Romania (Patriarch Daniel of Romania)
- Church of Bulgaria (Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria)
- Church of Georgia (Patriarch Ilia of Georgia)
- Church of Cyprus (Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus)
- Church of Greece (Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and all Greece)
- Church of Poland (Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and all Poland)
- Church of Albania (Archbishop Anastasios of Albania)
- Church of Czech Lands and Slovakia (Archbishop Rastislav of Czech Lands and Slovakia)
The Venue: Orthodox Academy of Crete
The Orthodox Academy of Crete is a public welfare institution in the category of National Foundations. It functions in canonical relationship with the Holy Metropolis of Kissamos and Selinon, and it operates under the spiritual auspices of His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
More On the Great and Holy Council
Websites
- https://www.holycouncil.org/ - the official website for the Holy and Great Council
- http://www.orthodoxcouncil.org/ - the press office website of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Lecture on the Holy and Great Council
Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis discusses the Holy and Great Council at the Leadership 100 25th Annual Conference Presentation, Friday February 19th, 2016 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona.