Most Holy Synod

The Most Holy Governing Synod (Russian: Святейший Правительствующий Синод, romanized: Svyateyshiy Pravitel'stvuyushchiy Sinod, pre-reform orthography: Святѣйшій Правительствующій Сѵнодъ, Svyatěyshìy Pravitel'stvuyushchìy Sÿnod) was the highest governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church between 1721 and 1917. It was abolished following the February Revolution of 1917 and replaced with a restored patriarchate under Tikhon of Moscow. The jurisdiction of the Most Holy Synod extended over every kind of ecclesiastical question and over some partly secular matters. Peter I of Russia established the Synod on January 25, 1721 in the course of his church reform. Its establishment was followed by the abolition of the Patriarchate. The synod was composed partly of ecclesiastical persons, partly of laymen appointed by the Tsar. Members included the Metropolitans of Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev, and the Exarch of Georgia. Originally, the Synod had ten ecclesiastical members, but the number later changed to twelve.