Ten of the fourteen Autocephalous Orthodox Churches are set to participate in the Holy Synod in Crete, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday 16 June and conclude on Sunday 26 June.
This will be the first Synod for the Orthodox Church, since the Schism of 1053, however there is some scepticism since the Church of Russia has decided against attending. Although the Serbian Patriarch initially intended to boycott the Synod, he decided to attend. This in turn has reportedly caused frustation in Moscow.
The main issues to be addressed at the Synod include defining the mission of the Orthodox Church in the modern world, the Orthodox Diaspora, declaring autonomy, the Sacrament of Marriage and obstacles encountered, the importance of lent and the Orthodox Church’s relations with the rest of the Christian world.
