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Extraordinary Twenty-member Synaxis (Twofold Biannual Synaxis).
In addition to the Holy Community and the Holy Superintendence, the Constitutional Charter of Mount Athos provides for another authority of monastic self-governance, which likewise meets in Karyes — the Extraordinary Twenty-member Synaxis (Art. 43 of the Charter).
The Extraordinary Twenty-member Synaxis is the highest legislative and judicial authority of Mount Athos. It was originally composed of the abbots and heads of the twenty monasteries. However, following the transformation of idiorrhythmic monasteries into cenobitic ones, it now consists of twenty abbots.
According to the law, this Synaxis convenes twice a year (following a formal invitation protocol by the Holy Community), fifteen days after Easter and on August 20th.
Its responsibilities include the authority to make regulatory decisions (excluding judicial decisions, which will be discussed in another section), provided that these do not contradict the provisions of the Constitutional Charter of Mount Athos. Its decisions are communicated to the governor and approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. An exception is made for matters of spiritual nature, for which decisions are sent to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for approval (Article 6 of the Legislative Decree of September 10/16, 1926).
Matters concerning the operation of the Extraordinary Twenty-member Holy Synaxis are contained in a dedicated internal regulation issued in 1930.
Extraordinary Double or Triple Holy Synaxis.
In addition to the twenty-member assembly, two other bodies of Athonite self-government have appeared historically, though they are not referenced in the Constitutional Charter of Athos. These are known as the Extraordinary Double Holy Synaxis and the Extraordinary Great Triple Holy Synaxis. Their omission from the legislation of the Athonite polity casts doubt on their legal standing.
These two bodies have, on the one hand, their own internal regulations, and on the other hand, have convened numerous times in the past to resolve some of the most important issues of Mount Athos. It is particularly noteworthy that the Extraordinary Double Holy Synaxis approved the current Constitutional Charter of Mount Athos in 1924.
As has already become evident, in any case of doubt or objection regarding any provision of the Athonite regulations, there should be consulted the relevant references in the text of the Constitutional Charter, which is formed "according to the ancient established customs." Therefore, the claim that the text of the Constitutional Charter contains a provision that contradicts the ancient regulation of Athos cannot be valid.
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1. The Extraordinary Double Holy Synaxis is an exceptional body, which serves as the national assembly of the Athonite community. Each monastery is represented by two monks, one of whom serves as the monastery’s permanent representative in the Holy Community. Consequently, there are a total of forty members: 20 monastery representatives from the Holy Community and 20 additional elected monks.
The convocation of the Extraordinary Double Holy Synaxis is an exclusive right of the Holy Community, exercised when matters of great importance arise. The Protosepistatis must be present at this Synaxis and leads the sessions. For all detailed provisions, one may refer to the “Internal Regulation of the Extraordinary Double Holy Synaxis of Mount Athos” dated October 14, 1930.
2. The Extraordinary Great Triple Holy Synaxis is composed of three representatives from each monastery, one of whom is the monastery’s permanent representative in the Holy Community. Consequently, there are a total of sixty members: 20 monastery representatives in the Holy Community and 40 additional monks.
According to the special regulation governing its operation, the purpose of its convocation is the revision of the provisions of Mount Athos regulation. The president is elected by a vote of the Synaxis members to lead the meetings, allowing the monastery representatives to speak according to the hierarchy of the institutions in the Constitutional Charter. Each monastery has three representatives but only one vote. Quorum is achieved if representatives from at least fourteen monasteries are present. Decisions are again made by majority vote.
