Concepts of “Gracefulness” and “Canonicity” of the Churches: Ecclesiological and Canonical Perspective

The article concerns a selective application of canons to the questions surrounding rising new autocephalous Churches. In order to reduce ever-present subjectivity, the author suggests to distinguish between dogmatic essence of canons and their historical form and to consistently use the terms «graceful» or «canonical» with regard to the Church according to this distinction.