Editing Holy Synod (section)

==Early synods==
The principle of summoning a [[synod]] or council of ecclesiastical persons to discuss some grave question affecting the Church goes back to the very beginning of the Church's history. Since the day when the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]] met at [[Jerusalem]] to settle whether Gentile converts were to keep the Old Law ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 15:6&ndash;29), it had been the custom to call together such gatherings as occasion required. Bishops summoned synods of their [[clergy]], [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]]s and [[patriarch]]s summoned their suffragans, and then since 325 there was a succession of those greatest synods, representing the whole [[Catholic]] world, that are known as general councils.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07428a.htm|title=Holy Synod|work=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]}}</ref>