Types, opportunities and difficulties of the synod in the Eastern Catholic Churches

Abstract

Eastern ecclesiastical law, speaking of the forms of synodality in the patriarchal or supreme archbishopric Churches, provided only three forms of synods: the Synod of Bishops of this whole Church of its right, its permanent Synod and the metropolitan Synod of individual provinces. Before proceeding to study the possible existence of other forms of synodality in the Eastern Catholic Churches, it is necessary to dwell on the teaching of the universal Church on synodality in its theological and legal dimensions.

This approach will provide a better understanding of the importance of the collegial action of the successors of the holy apostles - bishops, either in a separate patriarchal or supreme archbishopric Church, or in a separate ecclesiastical province, or during meetings of hierarchs from many ecclesiastical provinces.