Privacy Policy

Last updated: 30 August 2026

The Ophidian Synodus respects the privacy of visitors to this website and is committed to processing personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data may be collected through this website, why it is processed, how it is stored or shared, how long it is retained, and what rights individuals have in relation to their personal data.

1. Data Controller

The entity responsible for the processing of personal data collected through this website is: The Ophidian Synodus

For questions concerning privacy or the processing of personal data, you may contact us at:info.thesynodus@gmail.com

2. Personal Data We Collect

We seek to collect and retain only the personal data reasonably necessary for the purposes described below.

2.1 Website and Technical Data

When you visit this website, certain technical information may be processed automatically by the website infrastructure and hosting provider, including information such as IP address, browser type, device information, date and time of access, and technical information concerning your interaction with the website. This information may be processed for purposes including: maintaining the security and stability of the website; detecting and preventing technical problems or abuse; ensuring the proper functioning of the website; understanding how visitors use the website and improving its content and functionality. Some technical information may be processed by Squarespace as part of the services through which this website is hosted and operated.

2.2 Contact and Service Requests

If you contact the Synodus through a contact form or by email, we process the information that you voluntarily provide, which may include your name, email address, telephone number where provided, and the contents of your message. Different forms may collect different information depending on their purpose. For example, requests concerning liturgical services and press enquiries may require basic contact information and a message. This information is used to respond to your communication, provide the requested information or service, and manage the resulting correspondence.

2.3 Agápe Confidential Listening Service

Our listening service is a free and confidential spiritual listening service offered by the Ophidian Synodus. If you contact Agápe through its dedicated form, we may process your name, email address, telephone number where provided, and the information contained in your message. The information is used solely for the purpose of responding to the request and providing the requested spiritual listening and support. Agápe is not a medical, psychological, psychiatric, or therapeutic service. Information provided through the service is treated confidentially and is accessible only to those responsible for providing and managing the service.

2.4 Newsletter

If you voluntarily subscribe to the Synodus newsletter, we process your email address for the purpose of sending you the newsletter and related communications. Newsletter subscriptions are based on your consent. You may withdraw that consent at any time by using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in our emails or by contacting us directly. Newsletter subscriptions submitted through this website are recorded by the website platform, including information concerning the subscription date and source. Newsletter communications are managed using Brevo, a third-party email communication service.

2.5 Applications for Admission

If you submit an application for admission to the Ophidian Synodus, we process the information provided in the application for the purpose of assessing your application, communicating with you, and arranging any subsequent meeting or discussion concerning admission. Depending on the information provided, an application may include your name, surname, email address, language abilities, information concerning your religious or philosophical convictions, your reasons for considering an application, your abilities or experience, and any other information you voluntarily provide in response to the application questions. Some information requested during the admission process, including information concerning your understanding of God and related religious or philosophical convictions, may constitute special categories of personal data under Article 9 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Where required, such information is processed on the basis of the explicit consent provided through the application form. Application information is accessible only to the persons responsible for assessing applications and managing the admission process. If an application does not result in an affiliation with the Synodus, the application and associated correspondence will be deleted once the admission process has concluded and the information is no longer necessary. If an application results in affiliation with the Synodus, only the personal information necessary for the ongoing administration of the affiliation will be retained. This may include the member's name, surname, email address, and country of residence. Personal data relating to an application will not be used for unrelated purposes or disclosed publicly.

3. Legal Bases for Processing

Depending on the circumstances, personal data may be processed on the following legal bases under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Consent, where you have voluntarily subscribed to the newsletter or provided explicit consent for a processing activity for which consent is required; Legitimate interests, where processing is necessary for purposes such as maintaining the security, functionality, and integrity of the website, or managing ordinary communications and requests, provided that those interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms; Performance of a requested service or pre-contractual measures, where processing is necessary to respond to a request or to assess an application submitted to the Synodus; Legal obligations, where processing is necessary to comply with an obligation imposed by applicable law. Where consent is the legal basis for processing, you have the right to withdraw it at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.

4. Service Providers and Third Parties

The website is hosted and operated using services provided by Squarespace. Newsletter communications are managed using Brevo. Where membership information is retained following an application and affiliation, certain administrative information may be stored in ClickUp, within a private and access-restricted workspace. Communications and application correspondence may be processed through Google's email services. These service providers may process personal data on behalf of the Synodus or, where applicable, process certain information independently in accordance with their own privacy policies and contractual arrangements. Access to personal data is limited to what is reasonably necessary for the operation and administration of the Synodus. We do not sell personal data to third parties.

5. International Data Transfers

Some service providers used in connection with this website may process or store personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA, such transfers will be carried out in accordance with applicable data-protection law and, where required, on the basis of an adequacy decision, appropriate safeguards, or another lawful transfer mechanism. Because some of the service providers used by the Synodus operate internationally, personal data processed through their services may be subject to international transfers in accordance with their applicable data-processing arrangements.

6. Data Retention

Personal data is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Contact correspondence is generally retained for as long as reasonably necessary to manage the communication and any resulting matter. Newsletter subscription data is retained while the individual remains subscribed, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Application information is deleted when an application does not result in affiliation and the admission process has concluded, unless retention is required for a specific lawful purpose. Where an application results in affiliation, only the personal information necessary for the ongoing administration of the affiliation is retained. Technical information processed for security and operational purposes may be retained for periods determined by the relevant service provider and according to applicable legal and technical requirements.

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

This website uses cookies and similar technologies necessary for its proper functioning. The website uses Squarespace's cookie-consent system. Non-essential cookies are restricted unless the visitor provides the appropriate consent through the cookie-consent interface. Visitors may accept all cookies, decline non-essential cookies, or manage their cookie preferences through the options provided in the cookie-consent interface. The Synodus does not currently use Google Analytics or Amazon Associates through this website. Visitors may also configure their browser to restrict or delete cookies. For further information about cookies used by Squarespace, visitors may consult Squarespace's applicable Cookie Policy.

8. Your Rights

Where the GDPR applies, you may have the following rights in relation to your personal data: the right to obtain confirmation as to whether your personal data is being processed; the right to access your personal data; the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data; the right to request deletion of your personal data, where legally applicable; the right to request restriction of processing, where legally applicable; the right to object to certain processing activities, including processing based on legitimate interests; the right to data portability, where applicable; the right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent. You may exercise these rights by contacting us at: info.thesynodus@gmail.com

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data-protection supervisory authority, in particular in the European Union Member State of your habitual residence, place of work, or the place of the alleged infringement.

9. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss, or destruction. Access to application and membership information is restricted to authorised persons responsible for the relevant administrative functions. However, no transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

10. Children's Privacy

This website is not specifically directed at children, and we do not knowingly seek to collect personal data from children through the website. If you believe that a child has provided personal data to us in circumstances where such collection was inappropriate, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the website, our activities, the services we use, or applicable legal requirements. The date of the latest revision is indicated at the beginning of this document.

12. Contact

For any question concerning this Privacy Policy or the processing of personal data by the Synodus, please contact:

The Ophidian Synodus
Email: info.thesynodus@gmail.com