Idiorrhythmic monastic communities, while they existed and operated in Mount Athos (before all its monasteries were transformed into cenobitic ones), were governed by an Epitropi and a Synaxis (art. 123 and following of the Charter).
I. The Epitropi, consisting of two or three members, was elected at the beginning of each year from amongst the members of the Synaxis of the Superiors and dealt with administrative matters, as well as with the general management of the monastery, according to the internal regulations of the community and the provisions of the constitutional legislation of Mount Athos (art. 90). It was the body that executed the decisions of the Synaxis (art. 124).
The governing Epitropi of idiorrhythmic monasteries corresponded to the Epitropi of cenobitic monasteries of Mount Athos, while it formed part of the Synaxis of abbots or the general Synaxis of all monasteries.
II. The Synaxis was the main and permanent administrative body of monastic communities. Its members were elected for life according to the procedure defined by the Charter regarding the election of elders in general (art. 108), from individuals with the appropriate qualifications.
The Synaxis of elders corresponded to the Gerontia of cenobitic monasteries and had the same role as the abbot along with the Epitropi in the cenobitic monastic organization, in accordance with what is recorded in the constitutional legislation of Mount Athos (art. 90).
