SOME ASPECTS OF THE GRANTING OF THE TOMOS OF AUTOCEPHALY

Abstract

This article examines the phenomenon of ecclesiastical custom as a source of canon law, analyzes its relationship to Holy Tradition,
and delineates its function in the procedure for granting autocephaly. Special attention is given to the gradual transformation of custom into a binding legal norm and, ultimately, a canon. The study highlights that, from the sixteenth century onward, the
The Ecumenical Patriarchate has consistently issued Tomoi of Autocephaly in response to petitions submitted by the interested parties. Over time, this uninterrupted and uniform practice developed into a stable custom that acquired the force of law. The relevance of this development became particularly evident following the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s proclamation of autocephaly for the Church of Ukraine.
The article argues that the conferral of a Tomos of Autocephaly upon a local church constitutes the exclusive prerogative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and represents a canonical, authoritative, and complete act grounded in centuries-old custom. As such, it requires neither additional recognition by other autocephalous churches nor ratification by an Ecumenical Council. Challenging this principle calls into question both the institutional authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the stability of the wider ecclesiastical order.