Holy and Great Council of Crete
The participating autocephalous churches adopted documents on the Orthodox mission, the diaspora, autonomy, fasting, marriage, and relations with the rest of the Christian world.
Historical context
Four invited autocephalous churches did not participate. The council's documents and their subsequent reception should be distinguished from preparatory texts and from claims that attendance alone settled the council's authority.
Perspective note
Shared subject; this bundled record was originally written with an Orthodox-informed editorial lens.
Key points
- Use the final adopted texts when describing the council's decisions.
- Distinguish nonattendance from a conciliar decree about reception.
- The council did not present itself as an additional member of the traditional seven ecumenical councils.
Scripture
- Acts 15:28 — The apostolic assembly's communal discernment is a biblical model for Orthodox accounts of conciliarity.
Primary sources
The council says of itself:
The council's signed message presents conciliarity as an expression of the Church's unity and catholicity.
The Orthodox Church expresses her unity and catholicity "in Council".
Passage context and translation
In its signed message, the council connects conciliarity with Eucharistic communion and the life of the local autocephalous churches.
Before the excerpt
Our Church lives out the mystery of the Divine Economy in her sacramental life, with the Holy Eucharist at its center.
After the excerpt
Conciliarity pervades her organization, the way decisions are taken and determines her path.
Sources and further reading
- Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church — Message of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church
In its signed message, the council connects conciliarity with Eucharistic communion and the life of the local autocephalous churches. - Holy and Great Council: official documents
- OCA: Holy and Great Council concludes