7 A. GİRİŞ Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nda gayrimüslim cemaatlerin ruhânî işlerini görmeğe yetkili patrikhânelerin ve hahambaşılığın kendi cemaat üyelerine ilişkin her tür dava- ya bakmaya yetkili olduğu hususunda varit olan çeşitli rivayetlerin veya peşin kabul- lerin hukukî bir zemini olmadığı 19. yüzyıl öncesinde klasik dönemdeki uygulamalar ışığında ortaya çıkmış bulunmaktadır. 1 Bu makalede, 19. yüzyılın sonlarında Rum ve Ermeni patrikhâneleri ile devlet görevlileri arasında patrikhânelerin bakmaya yetki- li olduğu davalar konusunda cereyan eden tartışmalarla ilgili oldukça uzun sayılabi- lecek bir belgede geçen ifadeler ve devletin bu konudaki mülahazalarını ve yaşanan tartışmalarda kullanılan kavramların anlam ve içeriğine ilişkin yaklaşımlarını ele al- maya çalışacağız.  Doç. Dr. Fatih Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi. 1 M. Macit Kenanoğlu, Osmanlı Millet Sistemi, Mit ve Gerçek, Klasik Yayınları, 2. bs., İstanbul 2007, s.203-216 19. Yüzyıl Osmanlı Hukuk Sisteminde Gayrımüslim Cemaatlere Tanınan Adlî Yetkiler ve Bakmaya Yetkili Oldukları Davalar Macit Kenanoğlu* Türk Hukuk Tarihi Araştırmaları, Sayı 5, 2008 (Bahar), 7-44 In this article the changes and differences brought to the Ottoman legal system after the midst of 19th century concerning the judicial power and jurisdiction granted to the non-muslim religious communi- ties, in respect to Ottoman classical period, are investigated. Whether the judicial powers granted to non-muslim religious communities were increased or not, and what kind of cases and disputes they are authorized to settle has to be taken into consideration. This article is mainly based on the leading legal texts and constitutional documents of the19th century Ottoman Empire: such as Edict of Reorga- nization, Edict of Reform, and 1876 constitution. In addition to these, lots of fundamental laws issued by State to regulate the establishment of patriarchates and rabbinate, patriarchal berats, and the acts regulating the personal rights of non-muslim subjects have deeply been taken into account. On the ot- her hand it is aimed to reach a conclusion by referring to a legal text containing legal arguments on some specific matters between State and non-muslim religious communities. The differences betwe- en the State officials and non muslim religious authorities about the way of interpretation of the exis- ting regulations and the meaning of the provisions of these regulations should be strictly emphasized. It should be stated that Ottoman officials are very sensitive and aware of the meaning of legal terms used in these legal texts. The meaning of legal terms is explained by State by referring to the spiritual and corporal aspects of a legal dispute. Spiritual aspects of a legal matter were settled by non-muslim religious communities, but the corporal or temporal aspects of the same matter were definitely sett- led by State authorities. Key Words: Ottoman, Non-muslims, Patriarchate, Rabbinate, Legal case, Judicial power of non-muslim religious communities, Interpretation of laws.