1. (of an Eastern Orthodox or other Christian church) independent and self-governing, with the right to elect its own leader without external ecclesiastical authority.
Usage: religious/ecclesiastical term; primarily used in discussions of Orthodox Christianity

Examples

• The Russian Orthodox Church became autocephalous in the 15th century.
• Many autocephalous churches maintain their own liturgical traditions.
• The Ukrainian Orthodox Church sought autocephalous status for decades.
• Autocephalous churches have the authority to ordain their own bishops.
• The Patriarchate recognized the new autocephalous church in the region.