What is the church? How should the church be governed? Should both the clergy and the laity be part of the church's governing structures? These are key questions which relate to the foundation of Eastern Orthodox churches, to their relationship with modern nationalism and to state building processes. The Moscow Council of 1917 and 1918 provides a unique insight into these questions. The Council, held for the first time since 1667, explored in minute detail the functioning of the church, defining the patriarch's position as its head, to clarifying issues pertaining to the church's mission, parishes, monastic life, marriage, seminaries, education and administration. The decisions adopted by the Moscow Council have been controversial. Nicholas Afanasiev commented that the presence of the laity in the running of the church seemed to contradict earlier practices and should be perceived with a critical eye. A similar view was shared by Alexander Schmemann, John Meyendorff and Georges Florovsky who argued that some of the Council's decisions were due to the political milieu of the Russian Revolution.

Hyacinthe Destivelle, O.P.'s monograph offers a welcoming and fascinating journey through the structures and governing of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Moscow Council is still relevant today, as evident not only in establishing key aspects of church administration but also in addressing the wider social and political mobilisation of Orthodox churches, for example the statute of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The monograph ends with extensive Annexes containing the English translation of the Council's definitions and decrees.