SYNAXIS Manifesto

4 Pillars of Synaxis

1)    We gather because the Spirit of God brings the Word of God to us.

2)    We gather because we are authentically human when in relationship with each other.

3)    We gather to discuss the words of the Holy Fathers and Mothers because our relationship with them transcends time, space, and death itself.

4)    We gather to celebrate the greatest gift that God has given us- the Other: God, neighbor, and our ancestors.

4 Canons of Synaxis

1)    Synaxis is for everyone.

2)    Synaxis has the text as teacher and the group as moderator.

3)    Synaxis reads texts that are Orthodox Christian Classics which are any text that is written by an Orthodox Christian and is both loved by the Church and doctrinally formative.

4)    Synaxis is organized by its elder members whose sole responsibility is to arrange a convenient time and place and to select and distribute the readings.

4 Foundations of Synaxis

1)    Works of the Apostolic Fathers and Apologists (Particularly St. Iraneaos’ Against Heresies for its dogmatic, anthropological, and soterlogical significance).

2)    The Works of St. Athanasios (Particularly On the Incarnation and the Life of St. Antony).

3)    The Works of the Cappadocians (Particularly the Orations of the Theologian which were considered by the Church as Second Scriptures, the Letters of St. Basil together with his defense of the Holy Spirit, and St. Gregory Nyssa’s Catechism).

4)    St. Maximos the Confessor.