The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) will now be governed on the basis of a Holy Eparchial Synod, following a decision made by the Holy and Scared Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Tuesday, February 27.
Archbishop Makarios of Australia will be President of the Holy Eparchial Synod, and its members will be his active Auxiliary Bishops in their capacity as “Regional Bishops.”
There are currently eight Bishops in Australia. They are Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, Bishop Elpidios of Kyaneon, Bishop Silouan of Sinope, Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis.
There are no details yet as to how the Holy Eparchial Synod will work in Australia.
The model used by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is concerned with the “life, mission, growth and unity of the Archdiocese.” Its Holy Eparchial Synod deliberates on matters of a canonical nature such as approving ordination of candidates to the priesthood, clergy discipline, and administrative matters related to the parishes and monasteries of the Archdiocese, among many other things.
The GOAA’s updated governance structure comes after the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate approved the rules of its proposed new Constitution.
The two Synodical Committees of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will now study the draft Constitution in accordance with the decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod, and will present their final report to the Phanar around Easter.
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