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[[Image:World canonical territories.png|right|thumb|450px|Map of the canonical territories of autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox jurisdictions. Click image to magnify.]][[Image:Europe canonical territories.png|right|thumb|150px|The European section of the above map, in closer detail. Click image to magnify.]]'''Autocephaly''' (literally "self-headed") is the status of a church Local Church within the [[Orthodox Church]] whose [[primate|primatial]] bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. When Autocephaly is granted when an [[ecumenical council]] or a high-ranking [[bishop]], such as a [[patriarch]] or other [[primate]], releases an [[Ecclesiastical Province|ecclesiastical province ]] from all obligations to any higher authority within the authority of that bishop Orthodox Church, while the newly independent church remains remaining in [[full communion]] with the hierarchy to which it then ceases to belong, the council or primate is granting '''autocephaly'''bishops of that province. Historically, however, autocephaly is not always was obtained in such a mannervariety of ways. There are controversies regarding which historical methods of obtaining autocephaly represent a normative precedent to be followed in the future and which methods represent special exceptions.

Autocephaly refers to those churches Churches which are not, in any way, dependent upon any other churchChurch, or churchesChurches, for their life and mission. On the other hand, each and every Local Orthodox churchChurch, regardless of its particular status, is responsible for the faith and life of the others. Therefore any action of any church Church is subject to the review of the others in reference to its doctrine, morality, sacramental practices, and canonical order. This is just as each and every Orthodox Christian is responsible for each other.

Autocephaly is a developed practical concept in the Orthodox Church. That is, it is not part of the original organization of the Church but developed over time for practical reasons. Though many arguments are put forth regarding how autocephaly is properly obtained, the historical and canonical record shows a good deal of variation. But the something that is in common is that history shows that no council or church has ever ''created'' an autocephalous church.

Certain In Antiquity, certain areas developed for various reasons into self-governing churchesChurches, with groups of bishops organizing themselves into synods or councils with a primate. These self-governing areas were then confirmed in their position by the others and '''recognized''' as such. None of them were ''decreed'' into existence or created ''out of nothing'' by some special churchly power.

Some were simply recognized according to tradition (i.e., "small Tt" tradition), by which is largely meant meaning that those sees the bishops of certain prominent cities in the Roman Empire were recognized as primatial in their primates over the surrounding regions , by virtue of the size of those cities, the importance and influence of the Christians living in them, and the tradition of honor accorded to them:

In some other cases, autocephaly was simply declared by the church in question and then eventually recognized: * The [[Church of Russia]] declared independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]] in 1448 and then in 1589 styled its primate as ''[[patriarch]]''.* The [[Church of Greece]] declared autocephaly in 1833 but was not granted a ''tomos'' for it by [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] until 1850.* The [[Church of Romania]] declared its autocephaly in 1865 with strong protests from [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], who eventually recognized the autocephaly in 1885.* The [[Church of Albania]] claimed its autocephaly in 1922, which was recognized by [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] in 1937.* The [[Church of Georgia]]'s autocephaly (originally granted in the fifth century by [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]]) was abolished by the Russian authorities in 1811 (after Georgia had been annexed by Tsarist Russia) and then later restored ''de facto'' in 1917. This restoration wasn't recognized by the [[Church of Russia]] until 1943 or by the [[Church of Constantinople]] until 1989. Other churches became autocephalous largely from governmental declaration, eventually recognized by other portions of the Church: * The [[Church of Serbia]] was ''de facto'' autocephalous in 1832, but not recognized by the [[Church of Constantinople]] until 1879. Some claim that Serbia's autocephaly goes back to 1219.* The [[Church of Bulgaria]] was declared independent by the decree of the Sultan, creating a canonical mess condemned at a council in Jerusalem in 1872 (by way of condemning [[phyletism]]), eventually sorted out and reconciled by 1945. In other cases, it was granted by an [[Ecumenical Council]]:

* The [[Church of Jerusalem]] was declared a [[patriarchatePatriarchate]] with primacy in its area (over the claims of the bishop of Caesarea) at the [[Quinisext Council]] (the council "in Trullo" , in 692), which established the canons of the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] . In still others, it was granted by one mother church to a daughter church: * In 466, the [[Church of Antioch]] elevated the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] autocephalous.* The [[Orthodox Church in America]] received autocephaly from the [[Church of Russia]] in 1970 (though that action is still not formally recognized by any of the older autocephalous churches). ==New autocephalous churches==Reguardless of ''how'' a church becomes autocephalous, the normal and historical procedure for a ''new'' autocephalous church, is to be to be formally recognized as autocephalous by the church of which it was originally a part. And then be formally recognized by all of the other Orthodox Churches in the world. This does not require the blessing of any single particular bishop and certainly not an official gathering of an [[Ecumenical Council]].   

===The Authority of Constantinople===The notion that * In 466, the [[Church of ConstantinopleAntioch]] has elevated the sole authority bishop of Mtskheta to grant autocephaly is largely based on an interpretation the rank of Canon 28 Catholicos of Kartli, thus making the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council Church of ChalcedonGeorgia]] autocephalous.* The [[Orthodox Church in America]] (451) stating that received autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarch has authority [[Church of Russia]] in "barbarian lands." However, 1970 (though that action is argued still not formally recognized by many to refer only to certain areas on of the borderlands other autocephalous Churches).* The [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]] received autocephaly from the ancient [[Roman EmpireChurch of Constantinople]] and having nothing whatsoever to do with the modern world some 1500 years later. Historically in 2019 (see above), though that action is still not formally recognized by many of today's the other autocephalous churches were originally under the authority of Constantinople by virtue of geographical proximity or a tradition of Constantinopolitan missionary activity. So what may seem like a clear pattern of ecclesiastical order to some is argued by others to be merely coincidental and not [[ecclesiology|ecclesiological]]Churches).

There is, however, a good deal more historical evidence to suggest that Constantinople has a sort of missionary authority But there were also cases in the areas outside those territories which have been explicitly defined by pan-Orthodox synods two different Churches both claimed to constitute autocephalous churches.[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8148.asp] This claim is disputed particularly by be the [[mother Church of Russia]] the same daughter and its both granted autocephaly to that same daughter and dependency churchesChurch,[httpat different times://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles5/PatAlexisCanon28.shtml] especially as an expression of the idea that Moscow is the [[Third Rome]].

=== Patterns * The [[Church of Autocephaly ===Poland]] received autocephaly from the [[Church of Constantinople]] in 1924. This was not recognized by the [[Church of Russia]]. The Church of Russia granted a separate ''[[tomos]]'' of autocephaly to the Church of Poland in 1948.* The [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] received autocephaly from the [[Church of Russia]] in 1951. This was not recognized by the [[Church of Constantinople]]. The Church of Constantinople granted a separate ''[[tomos]]'' of autocephaly to the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in 1998.

FurtherIn some cases, even the idea that any mother church can grant a daughter church autocephaly is not supported was simply declared by history or the canons as they now stand. The modern conception of autocephaly postdates the primary formation of the Orthodox canonical tradition Church in question and then eventually recognized by some centuries, and so the canons don't currently directly address the question of how one obtains autocephaly in the 21st century.others:

* The truth is that, historically [[Church of Russia]] declared autocephaly from the [[Church of Constantinople]] in 1448 because the Russian Metropolitan appointed by Constantinople had accepted the Union of Florence and canonicallyconverted to Catholicism. In 1589, there is no one way to attain Russian autocephaly. Why? It is because there is no "theology was recognized by the four Patriarchs existing at the time, and the Metropolitan of autocephaly" to be found Moscow was also proclaimed a Patriarch, fifth in rank behind the others.* The [[Church Fathers|Fathersof Greece]] or declared autocephaly from the [[Holy ScriptureChurch of Constantinople]]in 1833, following the Greek Revolution against Ottoman rule. Indeed, The autocephaly of the very idea Church of autocephaly probably would have seemed Greece was only recognized by Constantinople in 1850, and a little odd to the ''[[apostlestomos]]. That doesn't mean ' was granted at that it is wrong, but autocephalous and time.* The [[autonomy|autonomousChurch of Romania]] churches are not essential to the nature of declared autocephaly from the [[Churchof Constantinople]]in 1865. That isThere were strong protests from Constantinople, they are not inherently but Romanian autocephaly was recognized in 1885.* The [[ecclesiology|ecclesiologicalChurch of Albania]] matters. They are a practical, administrative, canonical development, and they continue to develop, though within declared autocephaly from the context [[Church of ecclesiologyConstantinople]] in 1922. This was recognized by Constantinople in 1937.

The one pattern which does seem to prevail is And finally, there have been Churches that received autocephaly, then lost it (by being incorporated into other Churches), then received autocephaly again. It is an expression a matter of the whole community of Orthodox churches and that the voice of that community controversy whether it is most often found in the leadership of the first among themlegitimately possible to abolish autocephaly after it has been granted, the Church or whether "losses" of Constantinople. Where autocephaly is proclaimed without Constantinople's assent, it historically tends to find itself on difficult ground.represent abuses of power:

* [http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8148.asp The Origins and Authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church], by [[Demetrios Constantelos|Demetrios J. Constantelos]]