In this article we will analyze the question: “What is the autocephalous church, what is its difference from the usual one?” We will also consider recognized and unrecognized churches, as well as those that are part of the autocephalous and are called autonomous.
Definition of an autocephalous church
The Autocephalous Church is a completely independent organization that does not depend on the Ecumenical Council and can independently make decisions that relate to its routine, as well as work. In the Ecumenical Council, by the way, the leadership consists of representatives of all autocephalous churches.
If we consider the question of how the autocephalous church differs, then we can say that each is headed by a bishop who has the rank of metropolitan, patriarch or archbishop. His choice is made within the organization itself. Another difference is that the autocephalous church performs chrismation without the help of others.
The emergence of Russian autocephaly
The year when the Russian autocephalous church was formed can be considered 1448. Breakaway fromThe Church of Constantinople originated for many reasons. One of the main ones was too far distance between the two states, as well as their complete independence from each other. The Russian Church had a large number of bishops, even exceeding the number required by the canons for separation.
At the time the Russian Church acquired the status of autocephalous, two similar ones were already disconnected. These are Serbian and Bulgarian. In Russia, this need also matured, and the next event became the impetus. The last Greek Metropolitan Isidore accepted the union jointly with the Roman Church. In addition, the Russian bishop was once again not elected at the meeting to select a new metropolitan.
Of course, Isidore was deposed, but all the clergy of Constantinople accepted the obligations of the Council of Florence. This led to the fact that in 1448 the Russian successor Jonah of Ryazan was elected metropolitan for the first time. This event is the beginning of the emergence of Russian autocephaly.
Of course, the Russian and Greek churches have not lost contact with each other. This was manifested in letters, regular visits to Moscow. Such a relationship was to the taste of both parties.
Other Orthodox Autocephalous Churches
In addition to the fact that there is a Russian Orthodox Autocephalous Church, there are others that are considered recognized. There are only fifteen of them:
- Constantinople;
- Alexandrian;
- Antioch;
- Georgian;
- Jerusalem;
- Serbian;
- Romanian;
- Cypriot;
- Bulgarian;
- Helledian;
- Polish;
- Albanian;
- Church in America;
- In the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Despite the fact that there are many churches, the Russian one is the most numerous. It has about a hundred million parishioners. However, Constantinople is considered the oldest, since it was from it that all other autocephalies originated (break away), and later autonomies. This patriarchy is also called “universal”, since in ancient times this was the name of the Roman Empire, which at that time included Constantinople.
Unrecognized independent churches
So, now it is clear that the autocephalous church is an organization independent of all. However, this status still had to be recognized by existing similar churches. Today, in addition to the recognized ones, there are those whose status is not entirely unambiguous (some are not accepted at all). A few of them will be listed below:
- Macedonian Church;
- Montenegrin;
- Ukrainian Autocephalous Church.
In addition to the functioning Orthodox and unrecognized churches, there are others that do not obey the accepted statutes of Orthodoxy. These are, for example, Old Believer movements, such as Fedoseyevtsy, Netovtsy, Spasovtsy, the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church and others.
We should also mention those sects that were formed under the influence of a misunderstanding of the Holy Scriptures. Misinterpretation of the Bible and other treatises has led tothe fact that at one time certain formations began to form, which were later called sects. The essence of each of them is that they, having found in Holy Scripture what seems to them very important and correct, follow this instruction, forgetting about everything else. Moreover, most often the highlighted indication is misunderstood.
In conclusion, it must be said that each direction has its own differences, its own reason for not obeying the charter, the authority of the Orthodox Church, but this does not mean that it is true.
The concept of an autonomous church
So, above we figured out that the autocephalous church is a completely independent organization from others. However, there are also dependent (local) autonomous churches. They also have independence, but not as much.
Unlike an autocephalous church, in an autonomous church a bishop is appointed from a kiriarchal church. Also, the charter of autonomy corresponds to it, and myrrh is also sent from it. The expenses of such churches are structured in such a way that some share is sent to the maintenance of the senior leadership.
It is believed that autonomy can be:
- metropolitan district;
- eparchy;
- monastery;
- arrive.
For example, on Athos it often happened that some monasteries enjoyed almost complete independence, being part of the central Athos administration.
Let's list what autonomy exists in the Orthodox Church:
- Japanese;
- Chinese;
- Latvian;
- Moldavian;
- Estonian;
- Ukrainian;
- Sinai;
- Finnish;
- foreign Russian.
Status of Uniate churches
It should also be said about the existence of Uniate churches. The autocephalous Orthodox Church considers their existence a problem, since, according to some theologians, they rather separate the churches of the East and the West than unite them. This is because services in their parishes are held according to the Orthodox form of worship, but the teaching is Catholic. As well as the subordination of the Uniate churches is also Catholic.
These include the following churches:
- Czechoslovak.
- Polish.
- Western Ukrainian.
Conclusion
So, we figured out what the autocephalous church means, what are its differences from others like it. We also considered other areas that are present in Orthodoxy, various unrecognized churches, Old Believers and some sects. From all this we can conclude that in fact there are many branches of Orthodox belief, which were formed from unwillingness to obey or as a result of theological differences. Be that as it may, all this has led to the fact that many believers are not in the bosom of the original Orthodox Church.
