How did the Russian Orthodox Church become autocephalous in 1448?

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Jesus Christ: mosaic — Eastern Orthodoxy Jesus Christ, detail of the Deesis mosaic, from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, 12th century.

The Russian Orthodox Church became autocephalous—or ecclesiastically independent—in 1448 when its bishops elected their own metropolitan without seeking approval or recourse from the patriarchate of Constantinople.1

Prior to this event, the Russian church had functioned as a metropolitanate under the jurisdiction of the Byzantine patriarchate, with its leaders residing in Kiev and later in Moscow. This shift toward independence occurred as the principality of Moscow grew in power and influence, supported by the church's leadership, including figures such as St. Peter and St. Alexis. By electing their own metropolitan independently, the Russian bishops effectively ended the church's administrative subordination to Constantinople.12