autocephalous

[ aw-tuh-sef-uh-luhs ]

adjective

, Eastern Church.

1. (of a church) having its own head or chief bishop, though in communion with other Orthodox churches.
2. (of a bishop) subordinate to no superior authority; self-governing.

autocephalous

/ ˌɔːtəʊsɪˈfælɪk; ˌɔːtəʊˈsɛfələs /

adjective

1. (of an Eastern Christian Church) governed by its own national synods and appointing its own patriarchs or prelates
2. (of a bishop) independent of any higher governing body

Derived Forms

• ˌautoˈcephaly, noun
• autocephalic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of autocephalous¹

First recorded in 1860–65, autocephalous is from the Late Greek word autoképhalos having its own head. See auto- ¹, -cephalous

Example Sentences

But neither church is autocephalous, or independent: one answers to Moscow, the other to Bucharest.

From Reuters

Ukraine has about 30 million Orthodox believers, divided between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and two other Orthodox Churches, one of which is the autocephalous, or self-governing, Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

From Reuters

While that sounds definitive, the church didn’t declare itself “autocephalous” — the Orthodox gold standard of independence.

From Washington Times

While that sounds definitive, the church didn’t declare itself “autocephalous” — the Orthodox gold standard of independence.

From Seattle Times

Four of the world’s 15 Eastern Orthodox self-governing or autocephalous churches have recognised the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, away from the sphere of Moscow’s influence.

From Reuters