Regarding the Criteria for Granting Autocephaly, on the Example of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

Abstract

This article examines the theological and canonical foundations for granting autocephaly in the Orthodox Church through the lens of a unique precedent — the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. The autocephaly, granted by the Moscow Patriarchate in 1951 and confirmed by Constantinople in 1998, is analyzed as a complex phenomenon reflecting the interplay of ecclesiological principles, historical tradition, and political context. Based on Apostolic Canons, the Canons of the Ecumenical Councils, and archival documents, the article demonstrates the conformity of the 1951 decision with the fundamental criteria of ecclesiastical independence. The interpretative conflict with Constantinople revealed the canonical validity of Moscow's position (grounded in Canon 17 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council) against an expansive interpretation of Canon 28 of Chalcedon, whereas the 1998 Tomos, while confirming the status, compromised the ecclesiological integrity of the original act through restrictive conditions. This precedent underscores the necessity for a conciliar resolution of the status of autocephalous Churches based on the patristic tradition of conciliarity, emphasizing the primacy of canonical norms over political ambitions for the preservation of unity within world Orthodoxy.