Tomos of Autocephaly

A Tomos of Autocephaly is an official document issued by a higher-ranking Orthodox church authority that grants a church independence and self-governance. When a church receives this tomos, it becomes autonomous, meaning it can make its own decisions about doctrine, leadership, and administration without external approval. This process recognizes the church’s sovereignty while maintaining spiritual unity with the broader Orthodox community. Essentially, a tomos formalizes the church’s self-rule and is a significant event in church history, often marking the establishment or recognition of a national or regional church’s independence.