Latvijas Pareizticīgās Baznīcas Sinode (Latvian Orthodox Church Synod) is a national church synod of the Orthodox Church in Latvia. The church is an autocephalous entity within the Eastern Orthodoxy. It belongs to the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and is a member of the Local Council of Churches in Latvia. History The Latvian Orthodox Church was originally part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, which was founded in 1884 in response to the effort of the Russian Orthodox Church to establish a presence in Latvia. The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church later separated from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1921 and declared a unique independent Orthodox Church. In 1934, the Latvian Orthodox Church was officially recognized as an autocephalous church by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. This was the first time an autocephalous church had been established in Europe during the modern era. In 1940, the Soviet Union annexed Latvia and the Latvian Orthodox Church was forced to come under direct Russian rule. The Soviet Union granted some autonomy to the Latvian Orthodox Church, allowing it to remain independent, though this autonomy was limited. In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved and Latvia once again became an independent country. As a result, the Latvian Orthodox Church was allowed to operate independently and was granted full self-governance by the Ecumenical Patriarch. In 2019, the Latvian Orthodox Church held its first All-Latvian Orthodox Synod after nearly 100 years of separation from the Russian Orthodox Church. TheSynod elected Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevičs as the new ruling Bishop of Riga. Facts * The Latvian Orthodox Church has about 40 churches and monasteries throughout Latvia. * The Church is composed of two distinct entities - the Latvian Autonomous Orthodox Church and the Latvian Orthodox Diaspora Church. * The Church celebrates the Julian Calendar liturgical year, which is about 12-14 days behind the Gregorian Calendar. * The Church is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Services The Latvian Orthodox Church provides many important services to its people. These include religious education, providing spiritual guidance, offering charity work, and fostering a sense of community and identity among believers. The Church encourages patriotism, respect for the elderly, and reverence for the spiritual life. The Church also works to preserve traditional Latvian customs and culture.