holy synod

American  

noun

Eastern Church.

1. the governing council of an autocephalous church, composed of bishops and presided over by the patriarch or another prelate.

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holy synod British  

noun

1. the governing body of any of the Orthodox Churches

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Etymology

Origin of holy synod

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Concerning those who call themselves Cathari, who come over to the Catholic and Apostolic Church, the great and holy synod decrees that they who are ordained shall continue as they are among the clergy.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen

The holy synod of Nicæa, according to the three hundred and eighteen Fathers, under the Emperor Constantine.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen

The sons of the chiefs used to be educated in grammar, and were learning very well, till this was prohibited by the holy synod, under an order of the most reverend the archbishop of Mexico.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 04 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert

He it is, as we have seen, who occupies the throne of the czars since Peter the Great, and his Sanhedrim that usurps the name of the holy synod.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 15, No. 88, April, 1875 by Various

To the most religious Emperor Theodosius, the holy synod of bishops assembled in Constantinople out of different provinces.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen