Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon: The texts of the Council of Crete must not remain on the shelves

Metropolitan Emmanuel, Elder of Chalcedon, emphasized the need to put the decisions of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church into practice, warning that its texts must not be forgotten or reduced to references during anniversary celebrations.

Delivering the closing address at the international conference “The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (2016–2026): Assessment and Prospects” in Chantilly, France, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Metropolitan Emmanuel reflected on the reception of the Council’s decisions ten years after its convocation in Crete.

Drawing on the Gospel parable of the growing seed, he compared the Council’s decisions to seeds that require time, patience and care before bearing fruit. He stressed that the significance of a Council is not limited to the adoption of documents but is ultimately demonstrated through their gradual integration into the life of the Church.

Two dangers: Impatience and forgetfulness Metropolitan Emmanuel identified two major dangers concerning the implementation of the Council’s decisions: impatience and forgetfulness.

He cautioned against expecting immediate and measurable results, noting that the reception…