Phanar: Decisions from the Holy and Sacred Synod regarding the Holy Archdiocese of Australia
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The Holy and Sacred Synod, chaired by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, convened on Tuesday, 16 July and Wednesday, 17 July 2024.
During these meetings, according to the relevant Communiqué, the Holy and Sacred Synod decided, among other things, upon the following:
a) The Holy and Sacred Synod established, following a request from His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, and in order to enhance the pastoral care of the Orthodox faithful in Australia, the Dioceses of Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Chora. The newly elected Regional Bishops (Chorepiskopoi) are as follows:
Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis as Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Melbourne
Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea as Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Perth
Bishop Silouan of Sinope as Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Adelaide
Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis as Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Brisbane
Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta as Regional Bishop (Chorepiskopos) of Chora
b) and, in addition to these matters, the Synod addressed the cases of Father Theodore Alamanos from the Archdiocese of Canada and Father Mark Munoz from the Metropolis of Chicago. Both were defrocked and returned to the ranks of the laity due to ecclesiastical misconduct.
The Synod also thoroughly reviewed all other matters on the agenda and made the necessary decisions to address them effectively.