wfn.org | COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>]

> GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
> 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
> Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
> www.goarch.org    - Email: communications@goarch.org

> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

> COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

> New York, September 23, 2009

The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened
for its regular Fall Session in the Synodal Chamber of the Holy
Archdiocese in New York on September 22-23, 2009.

All the Members of the Holy Synod were present and participated in the
meeting under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.
The Holy Eparchial Synod discussed many issues among them the following:

1. Liturgical Issues: The Holy Eparchial Synod continued the work on
the text for the Service of Reception into the Orthodox Church through
Chrismation of Christians from other Denominations.
The Synod also discussed the participation of children in the Divine
Liturgy, which is of vital importance and recommended to have special
Divine Liturgies for children, whenever it is possible.

2. Canonical Issues: The Synod continued its work on the texts: a)
Regulations for the Holy Eparchial Synod, b) Regulations for Spiritual
Courts, and c) Reasons for Ecclesiastical divorce.
The Synod also discussed the important issue of interfaith marriages
and the need for pastoral care and guidance for these families.

3. Educational Issues: The Synod congratulated the Department of Greek
Education of the Holy Archdiocese for the publication of textbooks for
the first level in learning the Greek language.  It also thanked the
?Faith Endowment? (FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism)
for fully financing this project. Further, the Synod discussed the
Special Program for the Deaconate, which was approved in its entirety.

In this program 33 individuals have participated.

Additionally the Synod worked on and approved the revised booklet
?Welcome to the Parish Council,? which will be distributed to all the
Parish Councils of the Holy Archdiocese.

> Other issues discussed by the Synod included:

a) The visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch: The Holy Eparchial Synod
was fully informed about the upcoming visit of His All Holiness
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the U.S.A., and discussed the
participation of its Members in the various program events of the
Patriarchal visit.

b) The decisions of the Pre-Synodal, Pan-orthodox Conference: Finally
there was extensive discussion on the Fourth Pre-Synodal Pan-orthodox
Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland last June, which dealt with the
subject of the pan-orthodox unity in the Orthodox Diaspora.

After the conclusion of the Sessions of the Holy Eparchial Synod, the
Members had the opportunity to participate in the subsequent session
of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council.

> From the Office of the Holy Eparchial Synod