1. Plural of autocephaly; the condition or status of a Christian church that is self-governing and independent, particularly in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
Usage: ecclesiastical; formal; primarily used in religious and historical contexts

Examples

• The autocephalies of various Orthodox churches were formally recognized at the ecumenical council.
• Different autocephalies within Eastern Orthodoxy maintain distinct liturgical traditions.
• The establishment of autocephalies allowed these churches to govern themselves without external ecclesiastical authority.
• Historians debate the timeline of autocephalies granted to national Orthodox churches.
• The autocephalies of the Ukrainian and Serbian churches represent important developments in Orthodox church structure.