Historic Orthodox Church Council Opens in Crete After 1,000 Years

Saturday, 9 May 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

Former Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos traveled to Crete to attend the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, a landmark gathering of Orthodox Christian leaders held at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolymvari, near Chania. This historic council brought together representatives from Orthodox churches worldwide and was the first such assembly in over a thousand years. The event took place in the Chania regional unit on the western end of the island. Visitors to the area may encounter increased security presence and additional traffic around Kolymvari and Chania during the council sessions. The Orthodox Academy of Crete, where the council was hosted, is open to visitors outside of official events and offers a scenic setting on the coast between Chania and Kissamos.