On Monday, March 10 and Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the Holy and Sacred Synod convened for its regular monthly sessions under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
At the start of the sessions, the customary greetings were exchanged between the Ecumenical Patriarch and Metropolitan Andreas of Arkalochori, Kastelli and Viannos, the first among the newly appointed Synodal Hierarchs, marking the beginning of the new Synodal period.
During the meetings, all agenda items were discussed, and decisions were made accordingly.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Hierarchs of the Holy and Sacred Synod expressed their solidarity and support to Patriarch John X of Antioch and all Christians in Syria in response to the recent tragic events of violence in the country.
In a letter to Patriarch John, they called for an immediate cessation of violence, the preservation of peace, and the protection of innocent civilians and religious communities.
The Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized the importance of standing together in times of turmoil and sorrow, offering prayers for peace and justice in Syria.
They urged the clergy and faithful worldwide to intensify their prayers for the people of Syria and called on the country’s leadership to protect all communities within its borders.
The Ecumenical Patriarch had previously raised concerns about the situation of Christians in Syria during a meeting with the President of Turkey, stressing the need for the protection of lives and historical ties between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou