Chapter 2. The Hiera Koinotis [Holy Community]

Article 14

The representatives of the monasteries constituting the Hiera Koinotis are elected by their own monasteries, according to the internal regulations of each, between all monks aged over thirty years, who are distinguished by their prudence and irreproachable way of life. Preference is always given to those who have an ecclesiastical education and possess all-round knowledge. This election takes place no later than January 15 of each year.

Article 15

The representatives are elected to serve a one-year term. Their service, however can be extended across consecutive years, in case a monastery re-elects the same representative.

Article 16

The representatives must inform their respective monasteries about any economic and administrative matters discussed by the Hiera Koinotis before the beginning of the relevant final sessions, with the exception of judicial matters, which the representatives ought to resolve according to their own conscience. Monasteries are absolutely forbidden from in terfering or exerting an influence on their representatives when they are exercising their judicial duties.

Article 17

The Hiera Koinotis shall meet for ordinary sessions three times per week, and for extraordinary sessions whenever need arises. The proceeding of 24 these meetings is ruled by an internal regulation drawn up by the Hiera Koinotis.

Article 18

The daily order of topics for discussion is compiled by the Hiera Epista sia and distributed to the representatives one day before meeting. The subjects shall appear on the agenda in the order they have been tabled. In the event that a question has been declared urgent by the Hiera Koinotis, its discussion may be granted priority.

Article 19

The representatives shall live permanently in Karyes and they have an obligation to attend the sessions of the Hiera Koinotis ordinary and without fail, except in certifiable cases of ill health. In any other case, if a representative is absent from two successive sessions, the Hiera Epistasia may request that he present a written explanation of his attitude as obstructing the proceedings, which the Hiera Epistasia submits to the Hiera Koinotis. The latter may then impose a penalty on him in the form of a reprimand that is recorded in the minutes of the session. In case of recurrence, the Hiera Koinotis may request that his monastery replace him. Should the monastery refuse, the Hiera Koinotis has the right to deprive the monastery of the right to send a representative for a period of between three and six months.

Article 20

When a representative cannot avoid being absent from the sessions for a period of over one month, his monastery may replace him with another of its monks, or even entrust the duty of representation to a representa tive of another monastery by supplying him with a letter of recommen dation to the Hiera Koinotis. Thereby, this representative is granted the right to decide about the different cases on behalf of both monasteries he represents, by voting for each of them, with the exception of judicial cases. No one person may assume responsibility for representing two additional monasteries during the same period.

Article 21

The Hiera Koinotis is considered to have a quorum if at least two thirds of its members are present, that is, fourteen representatives. Decisions are taken by majority vote and recorded in a special book. All absent members and the reasons for their absence must be noted in the minutes of the sessions. Pursuant to article 19, the absentees must also in form the Hiera Epistasia of their absence. If for whatever reason some members leave the session, the session continues and its decisions are still valid for as long as at least eleven of its members remain present.

Article 22

No representative may, for any reason, refuse to sign the minutes of ses sion. He has also the right to record his own opinion in them. Any refusal to sign the meeting minutes entails the consequences out lined in Article 19 for obstructing the work of the Hiera Koinotis.

Article 23

The work of the Hiera Koinotis takes place in the presence of the Protepistatis, who introduces the affairs for discussion by the assembly, gives the floor to the representatives in order of their hierarchical rank, and may silence and call to order any representative who step outside the bounds of decency. If the latter proves incorrigible, he may be forced to leave the meeting room if the assembly allows it. If it happens more than once, the Hiera Koinotis shall request the replacement of the representative by the monastery he represents.

Article 24

All representatives are equal and have an equal vote. They are differen tiated only according to the hierarchical ranking of their monasteries.

Article 25

Decisions are final only after they have been signed by the members of the Hiera Koinotis and only then the relevant documents can be re leased. This does not apply in cases where the matter in question has been declared urgent by the Hiera Koinotis. All documents issued and dispatched by the Hiera Koinotis, based on its decisions, instead of bearing the representatives’ signatures, reads as follows: “All the representatives and superiors of the twenty monasteries of the Holy Mountain of Athos, in common Synaxis”. The Epistates shall stamp this document with the collective seal. None of them may refuse from stamping it un der any circumstances.

Article 26

All documents dispatched by the Hiera Koinotis, as well as those that the Holy Monasteries and any of their dependencies addressed to it, should be composed in Greek.

Article 27

When it becomes clear to the Hiera Koinotis that the financial situation of any monastery is precarious or gives cause for concern about its future, it shall invite the members of this monastery with responsibility for financial matters to present a precise report on income, expenditures, debts, and loans of the monastery, with documentary evidence. If, through studying this information, the Hiera Koinotis becomes convinced that the monastery is, in fact, suffering a financial crisis, it may at its own initiative take the necessary measures to rectify it.