The first synaxis of the primates of the ancient Orthodox Patriarchates and the Church of Cyprus

Ladas, Ioannis (author)

The Ecumenical Patriarchate made the decision to convene Council of Orthodox Churches in the early 1920s. Despite this, for well-known historical reasons, the Council took place only after 93 years of lengthy preparatory work. The convocation of the Council is primarily attributed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Bartholomew just one year after his election to the patriarchal throne, he convened the primates of all Orthodox Churches to strengthen panOrthodox unity. The institution of the Synaxis of the Primates of all Orthodox Churches, introduced by Patriarch Bartholomew, constitutes a sophisticated system of inter-Orthodox consultation and coordination under the auspices of Constantinople, which has proven highly beneficial for the Orthodox Church. Until the convocation of the Council, a total of six Synaxis of Primates of all Orthodox Churches and one Synaxis of Primates of the ancient Patriarchates and the Church of Cyprus were held. In this article, we will examine the first in order and the last to date Synaxis of the Primates of the ancient Patriarchates and the Church of Cyprus with the aim of highlighting its historical significance and the utility of establishing this institution, which holds much promise for the future of the Orthodox Church and its presence in the modern world.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ecumenical Patriarchate, ancient Patriarchates, Church of Cyprus, synaxis of primates
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 06.08.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 137-148
• Numbering: Letn. 85, [št.] 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-175381
• UDC: 271.222(564.3)-675
• ISSN on article: 0006-5722
• DOI: 10.34291/BV2025/01/Ladas
• COBISS.SI-ID: 245403651
• Publication date in RUL: 24.10.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovni vestnik
• Shortened title: Bogosl. vestn.
• Publisher: Bogoslovna akademija, Bogoslovna akademija, Teološka fakulteta v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 0006-5722
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8745472

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Prva sinaksa primasov starodavnih pravoslavnih patriarhatov in Ciprske Cerkve

Abstract

Ekumenski patriarhat je v zgodnjih 20. letih 20. stoletja sprejel odločitev o sklicu koncila pravoslavnih Cerkva. Kljub temu pa je – zaradi dobro znanih zgodovinskih razlogov – do koncila prišlo šele po 93 letih dolgotrajnih priprav. Sklic koncila se pripisuje predvsem ekumenskemu patriarhu Bartolomeju. Ta je že leto dni po svoji izvolitvi na patriarhalni prestol sklical poglavarje vseh pravoslavnih Cerkva z namenom krepitve vsepravoslavne enotnosti. Ustanovitev sinakse poglavarjev vseh pravoslavnih Cerkva, ki jo je uvedel patriarh Bartolomej, predstavlja prefinjen sistem medpravoslavnega posvetovanja in usklajevanja pod okriljem Carigrada, ki se je za pravoslavno Cerkev izkazal kot zelo koristen. Do sklica koncila je bilo skupaj izvedenih šest sinaks vseh pravoslavnih poglavarjev ter ena sinaksa poglavarjev starodavnih patriarhatov in Ciprske Cerkve. V prispevku bomo proučili prvo in zadnjo po vrsti od doslej izvedenih sinaks poglavarjev starodavnih patriarhatov in Ciprske Cerkve z namenom osvetlitve njenega zgodovinskega pomena ter uporabnosti vzpostavitve te institucije, ki obeta pomembno vlogo za prihodnost pravoslavne Cerkve in njeno navzočnost v sodobnem svetu.

• Keywords: ekumenski patriarhat, starodavni patriarhati, Ciprska Cerkev, sinaksa poglavarjev