Difference between revisions of "List of autocephalous and autonomous churches"

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{{churches}}
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[[Image:World canonical territories.png|right|thumb|600px|Map of the canonical territories of autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox jurisdictions ("churches"). Where a certain territory is disputed (either between two different churches or one church claims it as its territory while others consider it part of the diaspora), it is shown shaded. Click image to magnify.]]
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The '''[[autocephaly|autocephalous]] and [[autonomy|autonomous]] Orthodox churches''' are those churches (i.e. [[jurisdiction]]s) which have self-government. These jurisdictions are united in doctrine and worship, they recognize each other as canonical, they are in [[full communion]], and together they constitute ''the Orthodox Church''. The use of the term "churches" to refer to the various jurisdictions is informal; strictly speaking, they are just parts of the One Church, the Orthodox Church.
  
The '''[[autocephaly|autocephalous]] and [[autonomy|autonomous]] Orthodox churches''' are those churches which have self-government.  These churches also constitute what is generally known simply as ''the Orthodox Church'', but may also be referred to as the ''mainstream Orthodox Church'' or ''world Orthodoxy''. They all recognize one another and are in [[full communion]] with each other.
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The fact that these jurisdictions are in full communion with each other means that they recognize each other as parts of the Orthodox Church. However, it does not necessarily mean that they agree about each other's precise ''rank'' or ''status'' within the Church. The autocephaly or autonomy of several bodies is disputed. This means that there is a disagreement about whether the bodies in question are self-governing or not. So, for example, some consider the Orthodox Church in America to be self-governing, while others consider it to be a part of the Church of Russia.
  
That they constitute the "mainstream" (i.e., that they are legitimately and/or exclusively Orthodox) is disputed by a number of groups with whom they are not in communion, such as most of the [[Old Calendarists]].
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As a result, there are two ways to make a list of autocephalous and autonomous churches. The first way is to list only the jurisdictions that are ''universally'' recognized as self-governing. This may be called the "minimal list", and it is used in most inter-Orthodox gatherings. The second way is to list all those jurisdictions that are recognized as self-governing by ''at least one'' other jurisdiction.
  
Despite these churches all being in communion with one another, there is not currently unanimous agreement on which churches are considered autocephalous or autonomous.  There is, however, an order which is followed in international Inter-Orthodox gatherings, which is included here first.  There is an expanded order which is recognized by some churches, most notably the [[Church of Russia]] and its dependencies and historical daughter churches.
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Groups that are ''not'' in communion with the mainstream Orthodox Church, such as some of the [[Old Calendarists]], are excluded from both versions of the list.
  
==Inter-Orthodox order==
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==Minimal list==
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This is a list of churches that are recognized as autocephalous or autonomous by '''all''' the others. They are shown here in the canonical order established by Church Tradition.
 
===Autocephalous churches===
 
===Autocephalous churches===
 
*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
 
*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
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*[[Church of Finland]]
 
*[[Church of Finland]]
  
==Expanded order==
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==Expanded list==
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This is a list of churches that are recognized as autocephalous or autonomous by '''at least some''' of the others. They are also shown here in canonical order.
 
===Autocephalous churches===
 
===Autocephalous churches===
 
*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
 
*[[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
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*[[Orthodox Church in America]] (autocephaly recognized only by Moscow, Bulgaria, Georgia, Poland, and the Czech Lands and Slovakia)
 
*[[Orthodox Church in America]] (autocephaly recognized only by Moscow, Bulgaria, Georgia, Poland, and the Czech Lands and Slovakia)
  
It should be noted that in the [[diptychs]] of the Moscow Patriarchate and some of its daughter churches (e.g., the OCA), the ranking of four of the patriarchal churches is different. Following Moscow in rank is Georgia, followed by Serbia, Romania, and then Bulgaria. According to all four ancient Patriarchates, and the Church of Greece, the Church of Cyprus actually appears before Moscow in the hierarchy. Until the 5th century she has been struggling to remain free from Antioch. A monk had a dream which revealed the tomb of Barnabus, with a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. Since then the Archbishop of Cyprus has had certain privileges, like being able to wear a red rasson underneath the black clerical robes, having a stick featuring a double headed snake, and being able to sign his name in red.  
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It should be noted that in the [[diptychs]] of the Moscow Patriarchate and some of its daughter churches (e.g. the OCA), the ranking of four of the patriarchal churches is different. Following Moscow in rank is Georgia, then Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The remainder of the rankings beginning with Cyprus is the same.
  
 
===Autonomous churches===
 
===Autonomous churches===
 
*[[Church of Sinai]]
 
*[[Church of Sinai]]
 
*[[Church of Finland]]
 
*[[Church of Finland]]
*[[Church of Estonia]] (autonomy recognized by Constantinople but not Moscow)
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*[[Church of Estonia (Ecumenical Patriarchate)|Church of Estonia]] (autonomy recognized by Constantinople but not Moscow)
 
*[[Church of Japan]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)
 
*[[Church of Japan]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)
 
*[[Church of China]] (virtually non-existent, autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)
 
*[[Church of China]] (virtually non-existent, autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)
 
*[[Church of Ukraine]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)
 
*[[Church of Ukraine]] (autonomy recognized by Moscow but not Constantinople)
*[[Archdiocese of Ohrid]] (autonomy recognized only by Serbia)
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*[[Archdiocese of Ohrid]]
  
==Formerly independent churches==
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==Former self-governing churches==
These churches were formerly autocephalous or autonomous, no longer Orthodox, or in some cases no longer exist.
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These churches were formerly autocephalous or autonomous, but they are no longer Orthodox, or in some cases no longer exist.
  
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*[[Church of Rome|Patriarchate of Rome]] (See [[Great Schism]])
 
*[[Church of Carthage]]
 
*[[Church of Carthage]]
 
*[[Church of Latvia]]
 
*[[Church of Latvia]]
 
*[[Church of Lithuania]]
 
*[[Church of Lithuania]]
*[[Church of Rome]] (See [[Great Schism]])
 
  
==Unrecognized independent churches==
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==Unrecognized self-governing churches==
The following churches are variously unrecognized by the mainstream churches as independent and/or canonical.
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The following churches are either in [[schism]] from the mainstream Orthodox Church, or they are in communion with her but not recognized as self-governing by any jurisdiction except themselves. <!-- We really should separate the ones that are in schism from the ones that are in communion but don't have recognition for their autocephaly/autonomy. -->
  
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*[[Macedonian Orthodox Church]]
 
*[[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)]]
 
*[[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)]]
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*[[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]
 
*[[Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]
 
*[[Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]
*[[Macedonian Orthodox Church]]
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*[[Orthodox Church of France]]
 
*[[Montenegrin Orthodox Church]]
 
*[[Montenegrin Orthodox Church]]
*[[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[Autonomy]]
 
*[[Autonomy]]
 
*[[List of Patriarchs]]
 
*[[List of Patriarchs]]
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{{churches}}
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==

Revision as of 02:14, February 14, 2014

Map of the canonical territories of autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox jurisdictions ("churches"). Where a certain territory is disputed (either between two different churches or one church claims it as its territory while others consider it part of the diaspora), it is shown shaded. Click image to magnify.

The autocephalous and autonomous Orthodox churches are those churches (i.e. jurisdictions) which have self-government. These jurisdictions are united in doctrine and worship, they recognize each other as canonical, they are in full communion, and together they constitute the Orthodox Church. The use of the term "churches" to refer to the various jurisdictions is informal; strictly speaking, they are just parts of the One Church, the Orthodox Church.

The fact that these jurisdictions are in full communion with each other means that they recognize each other as parts of the Orthodox Church. However, it does not necessarily mean that they agree about each other's precise rank or status within the Church. The autocephaly or autonomy of several bodies is disputed. This means that there is a disagreement about whether the bodies in question are self-governing or not. So, for example, some consider the Orthodox Church in America to be self-governing, while others consider it to be a part of the Church of Russia.

As a result, there are two ways to make a list of autocephalous and autonomous churches. The first way is to list only the jurisdictions that are universally recognized as self-governing. This may be called the "minimal list", and it is used in most inter-Orthodox gatherings. The second way is to list all those jurisdictions that are recognized as self-governing by at least one other jurisdiction.

Groups that are not in communion with the mainstream Orthodox Church, such as some of the Old Calendarists, are excluded from both versions of the list.

Minimal list

This is a list of churches that are recognized as autocephalous or autonomous by all the others. They are shown here in the canonical order established by Church Tradition.

Autocephalous churches

Autonomous churches

Expanded list

This is a list of churches that are recognized as autocephalous or autonomous by at least some of the others. They are also shown here in canonical order.

Autocephalous churches

It should be noted that in the diptychs of the Moscow Patriarchate and some of its daughter churches (e.g. the OCA), the ranking of four of the patriarchal churches is different. Following Moscow in rank is Georgia, then Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The remainder of the rankings beginning with Cyprus is the same.

Autonomous churches

Former self-governing churches

These churches were formerly autocephalous or autonomous, but they are no longer Orthodox, or in some cases no longer exist.

Unrecognized self-governing churches

The following churches are either in schism from the mainstream Orthodox Church, or they are in communion with her but not recognized as self-governing by any jurisdiction except themselves.

See also


Autocephalous and Autonomous Churches of Orthodoxy
Autocephalous Churches
Four Ancient Patriarchates: Constantinople · Alexandria · Antioch · Jerusalem
Russia · Serbia · Romania · Bulgaria · Georgia · Cyprus · Greece · Poland · Albania · Czech Lands and Slovakia · OCA* · Ukraine*
Autonomous Churches
Sinai · Finland · Estonia* · Japan* · China* · Ukraine*
The * designates a church whose autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.


Sources

  • Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity (ISBN 0631232036)
  • Fitzgerald, Thomas E. The Orthodox Church. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1998, p. 151.
  • World Orthodox Churches, from the OCA website

External link