Page 204 - Orthodoxy Zizioulas

O r t h o d o x y
by virtue of or through any higher authority, whether that be
the head of an autocephalous Church, a synod, or any other
body.
Therefore, while it is certainly useful for various Orthodox
Churches to communicate with one another through the
heads of their autocephalous Churches, it must be acknowl-
edged that only when all bishops are given the freedom to
speak for themselves and for their own Church can the voice
of Orthodoxy and its decisions be truly “catholic” (at least as
far as the Orthodox Church is concerned). This matter holds
particular importance when significant issues of faith or
Church structure are at stake, as is certainly the case with the
Holy and Great Council of Orthodoxy held in Crete in 2016.
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