autocephalous

[aw-tuh-sef-uh-luh s]

adjective Eastern 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for autocephalous

Historical Examples of autocephalous

The Cretan Church is not, strictly speaking, autocephalous, being dependent on the patriarchate of Constantinople.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 6
Various
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

British Dictionary definitions for autocephalous

autocephalous

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 Formsautocephalic (ˌɔːtəʊsɪˈfælɪk), adjectiveautocephaly, noun

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