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XI. The Autonomous Churches

1. The Autonomous Churches which are parts of the Moscow Patriarchate shall carry out their activities on the basis and within the limits provided by the Patriarchal Tomos issued in compliance with the decisions of the Local or Bishops’ Council.

2. The decision on the establishment or abolishment of the Autonomous Church as well on its territorial boundaries shall be taken by the Local Council.

3. The Council and the Synod headed by the Primate of the Autonomous Church in the rank of metropolitan or archbishop shall be the bodies of the church authority and governance of the Autonomous Church.

4. The Primate of the Autonomous Church shall be elected by its Council.

5. The Primate shall take office after the approval by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

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

7. The name of the Primate shall be commemorated in all churches of the Autonomous Church after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

8. The bishops of the Autonomous Church shall be elected by its Synod.

9. The bishops of the Autonomous Church 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, as well as in the sessions of the Holy Synod.

10. The decisions of the Local and Bishops’ Councils and the Holy Synod shall be binding for the Autonomous Church.

11. The Supreme Ecclesiastical Court and the Court of the Bishops’ Council shall be courts of last resort for the Autonomous Church.

12. The Council of the Autonomous 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 draft Statute of the Autonomous Church shall be agreed upon in writing with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

13. The Council and the Synod of the Autonomous Church shall act within the limits determined by the Patriarchal Tomos, the present Statute and the Statute regulating the governance of the Autonomous Church.

14. The Autonomous Church shall receive the Holy Chrism from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

15. The Autonomous Churches shall be:

· the Chinese Orthodox Church;

· the Japanese Orthodox Church.