The Church Autocephaly: Motivating Factors and Constituting Elements
The Church Autocephaly: Motivating Factors and Constituting Elements

Summary/Abstract: The first founders of autocephalous churches were the holy apostles, as evidenced by numerous authoritative documents: the Apostolic Decrees, the Epistles of the Eastern Patriarchs (Article 10), the decrees of the Council of Jerusalem in 1672 (the 10th Rule), and others. An important canonical indication regarding the independent management of local churches is that the holy apostles transferred their authority in full to the episcopate of the Universal Church. This means that the right to establish new autocephalous churches belongs to the entire episcopate, which expresses its will through the Ecumenical Councils – the supreme body of the Church. After the Ecumenical Councils, the bishoprics of the already existing autocephalous churches play a major role in resolving this canonical issue, making decisions on behalf of the episcopate of the Universal Church. This process is carried out through the primary established body – the council. Thus, three factors gradually take shape in the life of the Church, contributing to the emergence of a given canonical autocephalous church: the will of the apostles, the Ecumenical Councils and the episcopate of a separate autocephalous church. In canon law, these are known as the direct factors in establishing ecclesiastical autocephaly. No other fundamental factors have been established for carrying out the canonical act of autocephaly can be carried out, although numerous attempts have been made throughout in the history of the Orthodox Church to constitute church autocephaly through other, similar means.

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