autocephalous

[ aw-tuh-sef-uh-luhs ]

adjectiveEastern Church.

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

Origin of autocephalous

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

Words Nearby autocephalous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use autocephalous in a sentence

The Church of Cyprus has been autocephalous since at any rate the oecumenical synod of Ephesus in 431.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 9 | Various
The Cretan Church is not, strictly speaking, autocephalous, being dependent on the patriarchate of Constantinople.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for autocephalous

autocephalous

/ (ˌɔːtəʊˈsɛfələs) /

adjective

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

Derived forms of autocephalous

autocephalic (ˌɔːtəʊsɪˈfælɪk), adjective
autocephaly, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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