John Erickson

This article by John Erickson examines the notions of autocephaly and autonomy in the Orthodox Church, drawing on an in-depth historical and canonical study. The author adopts an analytical approach combining ecclesiastical history, canon law, and ecclesiology. His central thesis is that the modern conception of autocephaly, modeled on the sovereignty of the nation-state and reinforced by nineteenth-century nationalisms, departs profoundly from ancient practice, in which autocephaly denoted a purely ecclesial independence within a common Christian commonwealth. The article traces the evolution of these notions from antiquity to the preparatory negotiations for the Great and Holy Council, analyzing the divergent positions of Constantinople and Moscow. Its theological contribution lies in highlighting the ecclesiological shortcomings of contemporary preparatory texts and in calling for renewed reflection, grounded in eucharistic ecclesiology, to move beyond the current institutional impasses.