Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed a Tomos – a document confirming the new status of the canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Tomos is a Church document that reports “Диалог.UA”.

As he writes in his article Now, before Tomasi was the decrees that were published for different reasons, but in the last few centuries Tomos became the Declaration of independence of the Church in a given region. It is based on Thomas a new Church forms its own bylaws and the Church Constitution.

In Orthodoxy there are now 15 independent churches ‒ Ukrainian they were 14. Some of them were formed in ancient times, part became independent relatively recently, separated from the ancient churches. Tomasi is only separated eight churches.

Now compare Tomos Ukrainian Church with the other Orthodox churches.

It is unique in that it clearly delineated the boundaries of the new Church. To have a community outside of Ukraine is prohibited. That is, the faithful of the Ukrainian communities in the Diaspora (Europe, USA, Canada) under the management of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

For the first time in Tomos prescribed role of the Patriarch of Constantinople as the highest court in matters of dispute. Previously, it was implied by default.

The Tomos there are points that do not allow themselves to change the status of the Church, the title of its leader or Charter, under which she lives. This can only be done in agreement with Constantinople.

All tomose different from each other. Sometimes Tomaso outlines the history of the Church. So, in the Serbian Tomos in great detail describes the history of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. A similar item is the poles and the Czechs and Slovaks.

Tomos Albanian Church, which issued in 1937 and is unique in that there are written separately in the promise of secular authorities to safeguard the freedom and rights of the Orthodox believers. In Albania – Orthodox minority and the local authorities achieved the independence of his Church among other things because of this promise, inscribed in the Tomos.

In the Tomos of the Romanian Church, which she received in 1885, it is mentioned separately because of the independence of the local Church of Constantinople asked “his Majesty the king of Romania and his Royal government.” In Greece, the Tomos issued in 1850, at the official request not only government but also the local clergy, and believers. This detail is described in the Tomos of the Church. The Greek document is also unique in that it gives the local Synod have the authority to register the divorce of believers. Before seeking a divorce had to go to Constantinople.

In the Ukrainian Tomos referred to the head of the new Church of the Epiphany the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

In the documents in Greek, Albanian, Polish, Czech and Slovak churches indicated that they receive a special Church oil – world only by Constantinople. Miro is used when baptism or the consecration of new churches. Other churches can do the oil yourself or get it from Constantinople, but their tamasah is not listed. New Ukrainian Church will get the oil from Constantinople.

Tomasi in common is that they contain the name of the new Church, as well as the title of its head. In most tomasow the Supreme power is vested in the Synod, a collective body of several bishops – something like a Cabinet.

All tomasak said that after the election of the new head of the Church he should send letters to the leaders of other churches – analogue of credentials and the establishment of diplomatic relations between States.

Each document States – the newly formed Church, especially its head, should “clean to preserve the Orthodox faith”.

Recall, vivid speech of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Istanbul after receiving Thomas has caused a rough applause of a hall.

Also there is a touching appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Ukrainians.