autocephalous
/ˌɔːtoʊˈsɛfələs/
adjective
- Describing a Christian church, especially in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, that is self-governing and has its own head bishop.
- Many autocephalous churches are in communion with each other.
- The autocephalous church elected its own patriarch without outside approval.
- Becoming autocephalous gave the national church more independence.
Antonyms