Dimitrios Bathrellos

This article examines the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, held in 2016, through the lens of critical theological and ecclesiological analysis. The author adopts an evaluative approach, combining historical reflection with doctrinal examination. He argues that the process of convening and organizing the Council presents a pyramidal structure unprecedented in the Orthodox synodal tradition, which compromised its representativeness and, consequently, its capacity to fully express the unity of the Orthodox Church as a whole. The article then proceeds to a methodical analysis of the documents adopted by the Council, identifying both their positive contributions and their theological and ecclesiological shortcomings. In terms of scholarly contribution, this study contributes to the ongoing debate on the reception of the Council and on the canonical and theological criteria that define the authority and legitimacy of a conciliar assembly in contemporary Orthodoxy.