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

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

Specially active in this work was Count Tolstoi, minister of instruction and also procurator of the holy synod.

From Church History, Vol. 3 of 3 by Kurtz, J. H.

At length a young monk, known to a member of the holy synod as a genius of promise, energetic and fertile in resources, was made choice of, who unhesitatingly undertook the mission.

From The Picturesque Antiquities of Spain Described in a series of letters, with illustrations representing Moorish palaces, cathedrals, and other monuments of art, contained in the cities of Burgos, Valladolid, Toledo, and Seville. by Wells, Nathaniel Armstrong

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