autocephalous

American  

[aw-tuh-sef-uh-luhs] / ˌɔ təˈsɛf ə ləs /

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.

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autocephalous British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• autocephalic adjective
• autocephaly noun

Etymology

Origin of autocephalous

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

Example Sentences

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 • Apr. 5, 2023

The Orthodox world considers North Macedonia’s Church to be in a state of schism since it declared itself autocephalous, or independent, from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

From Reuters • May 3, 2019

What kept it all together was their own autocephalous church, not answerable to Rome or Constantinople.

From New York Times • Oct. 25, 2018

“The whole concept of autocephalous churches is supposed to avoid secular ambitions of power,” said the Rev. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who serves as an adviser to Bartholomew.

From Washington Post • Oct. 10, 2018

The Church of the period was divided into five patriarchates, the Church of Cyprus being understood to stand apart and autocephalous.

From The Church and the Barbarians Being an Outline of the History of the Church from A.D. 461 to A.D. 1003 by Hutton, William Holden