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Letters concerning the Establishment of the Holy Synod (1723)

Eastern Patriarchs, tr. King, 1865

2. Letter 2: The Most Holy Patriarchs to the Most Holy Synod

Athanasius, by the mercy of God, Patriarch of the great city of God, Antioch, and of all the East.

Our mediocrity, by the grace and authority of the all-holy, life-giving, and consecrating Spirit, ratifies, confirms, and declares the Synod in the Russian, holy, great kingdom, appointed by the most pious and most serene Autocrat of the holy kingdom of all Muscovy, Little and White Russia, and of all the Northern, Eastern, and Western, other places, the possessor, Peter Alexiades, the Emperor, according to the Holy Spirit, beloved and greatly desired, to be and to be called our sister in Christ, a holy and sacred Synod, by all the pious and Orthodox Christians, both clerical and laic, governors and governed, and by every one in office; and has permission to perform and do whatever the four apostolical most holy patriarchal thrones performed; and warns, exhorts, and commands it (the Russian Synod) to observe and keep immovable the customs and canons of the sacred Œcumenical Holy Seven Councils, and other things, as many as the Eastern Holy Church keeps; and to remain immovable for ever. And may the grace of God, the prayer (εὐχή) and blessing of our mediocrity, be with it, (the Synod.)

September 23d, 1723.