autocephalous
adjective
au·to·ceph·a·lous ˌȯ-tō-ˈse-f(ə-)ləs 
: independent of external and especially patriarchal authority —used especially of Eastern national churches
autocephaly
ˌȯ-tō-ˈse-fə-lē
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The ongoing invasion has spurred Orthodox bishops to separate from the patriarchate of Moscow and begin operating autocephalous episcopal sees. 
Fox News, 4 June 2022 Kirill still claims jurisdiction over all of Ukraine despite the establishment, in Kyiv, of a nationwide autocephalous church in 2018. Nr Editors, National Review, 17 Mar. 2022 The fight for an autocephalous, or independent, church is a long and divisive history and so theologically labyrinthine that scholars disagree on major points. Alexander Thompson, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2022 Three other autocephalous churches have explicitly rejected the new church. J. Eugene Clay, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2022 Each autocephalous church has its own head, or kephale in Greek. J. Eugene Clay, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2022 The idea of an autocephalous, or independent, Ukrainian church has long been a dream of Ukrainian nationalists. Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2019 The decision marked a step toward establishing an ecclesiastically independent – or autocephalous – church in Ukraine. Vladimir Isachenkov, The Seattle Times, 15 Oct. 2018 The move comes as Ukraine strives to create an autocephalous church, independent of Moscow, in an attempt to cut ties with Russia as much as possible. Thomas Grove, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018 See More
Fox News, 4 June 2022 Kirill still claims jurisdiction over all of Ukraine despite the establishment, in Kyiv, of a nationwide autocephalous church in 2018. Nr Editors, National Review, 17 Mar. 2022 The fight for an autocephalous, or independent, church is a long and divisive history and so theologically labyrinthine that scholars disagree on major points. Alexander Thompson, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2022 Three other autocephalous churches have explicitly rejected the new church. J. Eugene Clay, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2022 Each autocephalous church has its own head, or kephale in Greek. J. Eugene Clay, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2022 The idea of an autocephalous, or independent, Ukrainian church has long been a dream of Ukrainian nationalists. Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2019 The decision marked a step toward establishing an ecclesiastically independent – or autocephalous – church in Ukraine. Vladimir Isachenkov, The Seattle Times, 15 Oct. 2018 The move comes as Ukraine strives to create an autocephalous church, independent of Moscow, in an attempt to cut ties with Russia as much as possible. Thomas Grove, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Greek autokephalos, from Greek aut- + kephalē head — more at cephalic
First Known Use
circa 1754, in the meaning defined above
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