The notion that the [[Church of Constantinople]] has the sole authority to grant autocephaly is largely based on an interpretation of Canon 28 of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] (451) stating that the Ecumenical Patriarch has authority in "barbarian lands." However, that is argued by many to refer only to certain areas on the borderlands of the ancient [[Roman Empire]] and having nothing whatsoever to do with the modern world some 1500 years later. Historically (see above), many of today's 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]].

The truth is that, historically and canonically, there is no one wayto attain autocephaly. Why? It is because there is no "Theology of Autocephaly" to be found in the [[Church Fathers|Fathers]] or the [[Holy Scripture]]." Indeed, the very idea of autocephaly probably would have seemed a little odd to the [[Apostles]]. That doesn't mean that it is wrong, but autocephalous and [[autonomy|autonomous]] churches are not pertinent essential to the nature of the [[Church]]. That is, they are not inherently [[ecclesiology|ecclesiological]] matters. They are a practical, administrative development.