On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate convened for its regular session at the Phanar, under the chairmanship of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to address the matters on its agenda.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Synod members expressed their deep sorrow at the passing of Metropolitan Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronas. As stated in the official communiqué, “His All-Holiness and the members of the Holy and Sacred Synod rose and offered prayers for the blessed repose and eternal memory” of the late Hierarch, whom they described as “beloved and greatly tested shepherd of the Church of Crete.”
Following the opening session, the Patriarch descended to the Patriarchal Church, where he celebrated a Trisagion service for the repose of Metropolitan Damaskinos’ soul, with the participation of the Synodal Hierarchs and members of the Patriarchal Court.
In light of the vacancy caused by the Hierarch’s passing, the Synod decided to fill the open Synodal seat by appointing Metropolitan Athanasios of Colonia—who serves in London—to complete the remainder of the term.
Among other matters discussed during the session, the Synod reviewed a letter of gratitude from the Church of Cyprus regarding the recent dispatch of Holy Myrrh, sent following a formal request. The communiqué noted that the Synod “made the appropriate decisions” to support the liturgical needs of the Church of Cyprus.
