On the granting of autocephaly to the orthodox church of the Czech lands and Slovakia: two perspectives - Moscow and Constantinople

The year 2021 is marked by an important date for the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia - the 70th anniversary of the granting of autocephaly by the Moscow Patriarchate. The article provides a historical overview of the difficult path to the independence of governance, which the Orthodox in these lands have passed. Consideration of a number of complex events associated with this period is relevant in the light of contemporary problems in inter-Orthodox relations. The role of the Moscow and Constantinople Patriarchates in the formation of the modern form of existence of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia is considered. The article also contains a historical and canonical analysis of the approach to the problem of granting autocephalous status based on the example of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.