Meeting of the Holy Synod
Meeting of the Holy Synod
The Holy Synod is the highest authority in the Church under the presidency of the Pope.
According to its regulations, it convenes twice each year under the Pope’s leadership and by his invitation to consider matters concerning the Church as a whole. At present, it has a fixed meeting date: the Saturday preceding the Feast of Pentecost, allowing the bishops of the Church to participate in the ordination services held during Pentecost.
For the first time, formal bylaws for the Holy Synod were established during its meeting in 1985.
Regarding the legitimacy of Synod meetings and decisions:
According to the bylaws, a Synod meeting is not considered valid unless at least two-thirds of its members are present. Likewise, its decisions are not considered valid unless approved by at least three-quarters of those attending. In this way, it is ensured that no decision is issued without the approval of at least half of the total members of the Holy Synod.
At present, the Synod consists of 63 members. Therefore, a meeting cannot be considered valid with fewer than two-thirds of its members, that is, 42 members.
In cases of necessity, if the six members serving outside the country (in Jerusalem, Sudan, Africa, and France) are unable to attend, the Synod may convene with 38 members, representing two-thirds of the remaining 57 members.
Currently, all decisions of the Holy Synod are issued unanimously. Otherwise, the matter is postponed for further study.
The decisions of the Synod belong to the entire Church and should be, indeed ought to be, published so that people may know them, adhere to them, and implement them.
Therefore, God willing, we shall publish the Synod’s bylaws and decisions successively. In this issue, we have published decisions concerning monasticism. In the next issue, God willing, we shall publish decisions concerning personal status matters, such as engagement, marriage, divorce, and rulings regarding the annulment of marriage.
The Holy Synod has committees that prepare its work, and its members are distributed among these committees.
No committee’s work is considered legally effective unless it is approved by the Synod.
In addition to the Synod’s general committees, the Pope has the authority to establish Synodal committees to assist him in carrying out his responsibilities.
The Pope has established a committee for the affairs of the diaspora and its churches. It includes nearly all the bishops whom he delegates for pastoral visits abroad.
Alongside the general Synodal committee responsible for diocesan affairs, there is another Synodal committee dedicated to monastic affairs.
There are also general committees for doctrine, liturgy, and education; a committee for canon law and personal status matters; a committee for public relations and ecumenical work; and a secretariat committee headed by the Secretary of the Holy Synod.
