SYNOD – (Gr. a meeting) An ecclesiastical council for consulting, advising and deciding upon church matters.
HOLY SYNOD -The governing council of each autocephalous Orthodox Church, its members usually selected from among the bishops in turn, or consisting of all of them under the presidency of the Patriarch. They are charged with the conservation of the faith and discipline of their churches, maintaining unity with other Orthodox Churches, and in general, have administrative and executive powers in all spiritual and temporal matters affecting their Church.