In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
I am pleased to present this book, because it is the first time in the history of the Church that a book like this is published and it is the first time that a Constitution of the Holy Synod is published. The reason is simple: it is because the Holy Synod did not previously have a Constitution, but rather the first Constitution was drawn up, by the Grace of God, on the day of Pentecost on 1985.
The purpose of this Constitution is to clarify what the Holy Synod is, who it is formed of, its presidency, its secretariat, its committees, its specialisations, when it convenes, the lawfulness of its meetings and decisions, and the nature of each rank of priesthood from the members of the Synod, by way of General Provisions.
Here I would like to thank the Secretariat of the Holy Synod on the great effort made in compiling all the decisions issued by the Synod during the many previous years and categorising and publishing all these decisions and abiding by them.
In all its decisions, the Holy Synod intended to make decisions that conform with the Bible, and with the Church's traditions, laws and rituals.
The Holy Synod also published decisions to organise many matters that required organisation, particularly the pledges made by the new Bishops, Priests, Monks and consecrated servants with the development of special systems for fasting, Sanctuaries, the ordination of Priests, the establishment of female heads of monasteries, establishing consecrations and many rituals.
Moreover, news was published regarding approval of the Synod of the establishment of new monasteries, or ancient monasteries to which monastic life was restored. There was also other news regarding the relations with other Churches, in addition to news regarding seminars held by the Synod.
Regulations were established by the Synod regarding personal affairs, and what must take place in relation to engagements, marriages and divorces, and what all the Dioceses and Seminary Institutes must adhere to in this regard.
It is a long journey in the work of the Holy Synod in a quarter of a century. We publish it to add a new page to the history of our Church in regulation and legislation, and we provide it to the churches printed, published and categorised.
We ask the blessing of the Lord for all of us.
November 1996
Shenouda
I thank the Secretariat of the Synod for the great and very useful effort in compiling and publishing all these decisions.
Shenouda
14/11/2004
From the bottom of my heart, I thank the Secretariat of the Holy Synod for this great effort in collecting all these decrees to publish for everyone to use, whether members of the Synod or all the Bishops or Priests in the see of St Mark, inside or outside, for their benefit.
Shenouda
03/08/2010