or when at least one third of the bishops request that it be held to consider some specific matter. In addition, the individual canon law of some of these churches requires that their synod of bishops be convoked at predetermined intervals. In metropolitan sui iuris churches a role analogous to that of the synod of bishops is played by a council of hierarchs. See also Caesaropapism Holy Synod of Jerusalem Holy Synod of Milan References Eastern Christianity Ecclesiology Governing assemblies of religious organizations ru:Священный синод