Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church

1. The Self-governing Churches, which comprise the Moscow Patriarchate, shall exercise their activities on the basis of the Patriarchal Tomos issued in accordance with the decisions of the Local or Bishops’ Council and within the limits provided by it.

2. The decision on the establishment or dissolution of the Self-governing Church and on the definition of its territorial boundaries shall be taken by the Bishops’ Council.

3. The Council and the Synod headed by the Primate of the Self-governing Church in the rank of Metropolitan or Archbishop, shall be the bodies of the church authority and governance of the Self-governing Church.

4. The Primate of the Self-governing Church shall be elected by the Council from among the candidates approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod.

5. The Primate shall take office upon the confirmation by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

6. The Primate shall be the diocesan bishop of his diocese and shall head the Self-governing Church on the basis of the canons, the present Statute and the Statute of the Self-governing Church.

7. The name of the Primate shall be mentioned in all churches of the Self-governing Church after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

8. The decision on the establishment or dissolution of the dioceses making up the Self-governing Church and the definition of their territorial boundaries shall be taken by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod upon the presentation from the Synod of the Self-governing Church.

9. The bishops of the Self-governing Church shall be elected by the Synod from among the candidates confirmed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod.

10. The Bishops of the Self-governing Churches shall be members of the Local and Bishops’ Councils and shall take part in their proceedings in accordance with Sections II and III of the present Statute, and in the sessions of the Holy Synod.

11. The decisions of the Local and Bishops’ Councils and the Holy Synod shall be binding for the Self-governing Churches.

12. The General church court and the Court of the Bishops’ Council shall be the ecclesiastical courts of final appeal for the Self-governing Church.

13. The Council of the Self-governing Church shall adopt the Statute regulating the governance of this Church on the basis of the Patriarchal Tomos and within the limits provided by it. The Statute shall be subject to approval by the Holy Synod and confirmation by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,

14. The Council and the Synod of the Self-governing Church shall act within the limits determined by the Patriarchal Tomos, the present Statute and the Statute regulating the governance of the Self-governing Church.

15. The Self-governing Church shall receive the Holy Chrism from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

16. The Latvian Orthodox Church;

The Orthodox Church of Moldova;

The Estonian Orthodox Church

are the self-governing Churches.

17. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church shall be self-governing with the broad right of autonomy.

In its life and activity it shall be guided by the Tomos of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia of 1990 and by the Statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church confirmed by its Primate and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.