Synaxis
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<!-- :''For the [[moth]] [[genus]], see ''[[Synaxis (moth)]]. (at this point, April 2008, this redirects to a nonexistant article.-->
[[Image:Sobor Bogorodici.jpg|thumb|[[Icon]] of the Synaxis of the [[Theotokos]] ([[Pskov]], 17th century).]]
In [[Eastern Christianity]] (the [[Orthodox Church]] and those [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]]), a '''Synaxis''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Σύναξις; [[Church Slavonic|Slavonic]]: Собор, ''Sobor'') is an assembly for liturgical purposes, generally through the celebration of [[Vespers]], [[Matins]], [[Little Hours]], and the [[Divine Liturgy]].
==Feast day==
In [[Constantinople]], the clergy and faithful would often gather together on specific [[feast day]]s at a church dedicated to the saint of that day for liturgical celebrations. These gatherings were referred to as ''synaxes''. These synaxes came to have services written specifically for them. A Synaxis often occurs on the day following a [[Great Feast|Major Feast Day]] and is in honor of saints who participated in the event. For example, services on the Feast of [[Epiphany (holiday)|Theophany]] (the revelation of the [[Trinity]] at the [[Baptism of Jesus]] in the [[River Jordan|Jordan]]) would be held at [[Hagia Sophia]]; then, the next day, a Synaxis was observed in honor of [[John the Baptist|St. John the Forerunner]] at the church dedicated to him. Over time, the synaxes came into general use and are now celebrated in every church.
Synaxis can also refer to a common commemoration of a number of saints in a single service, such as the Synaxis of the [[Seventy Apostles]]. Each individual saint may have his or her own separate feast day, but they are all commemorated together on their synaxis.
Most synaxes are observed as [[Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar|fixed feasts]], being celebrated on the same calendar date year after year, though some occur on the nearest Sunday to a particular date. Other synaxes are celebrated on the [[Paschal cycle]], moving backward or forward in the calendar according to the date of [[Easter|Pascha]] (Easter) that year.
The following are Synaxes which are universally observed in the [[Rite of Constantinople]]:
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103648 Synaxis of the Theotokos] (December 26)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100109 Synaxis of the Forerunner] (January 7)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100017 Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles] (January 4)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100350 Synaxis of the Three Great Hierarchs] (January 30)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100886 Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel] (March 26 and [http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102017 July 13])
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101711 Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles] (June 30)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101462 Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council] (May 22)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102090 Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council] (July 25)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102555 Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council] (September 9)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103244 Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers] (November 8)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=205418 Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenaries] (November 1)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=43 Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council] (Sunday before [[Pentecost]] and [http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101563 May 29])
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=48 Synaxis of All Saints] (Sunday after Pentecost)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=70 Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council] (Sunday on or after October 8)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100284 Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical Council] (January 23)
There are also synaxes which have been composed for local observance:
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=103750 Synaxis of the Saints of Belarus]
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=49 Synaxis of the Saints of North America] (second Sunday after Pentecost)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=51 Synaxis of all Saints of Pskov] (third Sunday after Pentecost)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100285 Synaxis of the Saints of Kostroma] (January 23)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100479 Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Novgorod] (February 10, October 4, and the third Sunday after Pentecost)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100609 Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves Lavra] (second Sunday of [[Great Lent]])
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101468 Synaxis of the Rostov and Yaroslavl] (May 23)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101688 Synaxis of the Saints of Ryzan] (June 10)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101689 Synaxis of the Saints of Siberia] (June 10)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101796 Synaxis of the Saints of Vladimir] (June 23)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101949 Synaxis of the Saints of Radonezh] (July 6)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102256 Synaxis of the Saints of Solovki Monastery] (August 9)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102418 Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Far Caves in Kiev] (August 28)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102428 Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs] (August 30)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102702 Synaxis of the Saints of Tula] (September 22)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102712 Synaxis of All Saints of Alaska] (September 24)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102757 Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Near Caves in Kiev] (September 28)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102852 Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Kazan] (October 4)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102923 Synaxis of the Saints of Volhynia] (October 10)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103750 Synaxis of the Saints of Belarus] (second Sunday after Pentecost)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103801 Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of Optina] (October 11)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103910 Synaxis of the Saints of Georgia] (December 11)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=108059 Synaxis of all Saints of Serbia] (August 28)
*[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Synaxis_of_the_Hierarchs_of_Moscow Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Moscow] (October 5)
*Synaxis of all Saints of [[Moscow]] (Sunday before August 26th)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102078 Synaxis of the Saints of Smolensk] (Sunday closest to July 23)
*Synaxis of the Saints of [[Tver]] (Sunday closest to July 3)
==Assembly==
A '''Synaxis''' is a group of churchmen - especially in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]] - who would otherwise compose a [[Synod]] but lack an officiating [[Patriarch]].
Because they did not recognize the authority of the [[Latins|Latin]] [[Latin Patriarch of Constantinople|Patriarchs]] following the [[Council of Florence]], the group of churchmen opposing the Council and its [[Uniate|Union]] called themselves the Synaxis. The most influential and famous of these was the monk Gennadios, better known as [[Gennadius Scholarius|Georgios Scholarios]], who later became [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]].
==External links==
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14383a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox liturgical days]]
[[Category:Eastern liturgy]]