autocephalous

/ɔːtə(ʊ)ˈsɛfələs/

Meanings

adjective

(of a church or bishop) Self-governing: independent of other episcopal jurisdiction (to a greater degree than an autonomous church).

Examples :

"The Orthodox Church of America is an autocephalous church, meaning it governs itself and is not subject to the authority of any other patriarch or outside bishop. "

Related Words

autonomous adjective

/ɔːˈtɒnəməs/ /ɔˈtɑnəməs/ /ɑˈtɑnəməs/

Self-governing. Intelligent, sentient, self-aware, thinking, feeling, governing independently.

"The university encourages students to become more autonomous learners by giving them choices in their projects and assignments. "

jurisdiction noun

/d͡ʒɔːɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/ /d͡ʒɝɪsˈdɪkʃən/

The power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law.

"The school principal has jurisdiction over student behavior during lunch breaks. "

governing verb

/ˈɡʌvənɪŋ/ /ˈɡʌvɚnɪŋ/

To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.

"The old king governed the land wisely."

patriarch noun

/ˈpeɪtɹɪɑːk/ /ˈpeɪt(ʃ)ɹiɑɹk/

The highest form of bishop, in the ancient world having authority over other bishops in the province but now generally as an honorary title; in Roman Catholicism, considered a bishop second only to the Pope in rank.

"The patriarch of the diocese presided over the important church council. "

meaning noun

/ˈmiːnɪŋ/

(of words or symbols) The entity, perception, feeling or concept thereby represented or evoked.

"The meaning of the teacher's hand gesture was clear: "Pay attention." "

governs verb

/ˈɡʌvərnz/ /ˈɡʌvənz/

To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.

"The old king governed the land wisely."

greater adjective

/ˈɡɹeɪ.tə(ɹ)/

Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

"A great storm is approaching our shores."

episcopal adjective

/əˈpɪs.kə.pl̩/

Of or relating to the affairs of a bishop in various Christian churches.

"The meeting addressed the episcopal concerns about the new church policy. "

independent noun

/ɪndɪˈpɛndənt/

A candidate or voter not affiliated with any political party, a freethinker, free of a party platform.

"The independent candidate ran for student council, appealing to voters who weren't loyal to any particular group. "

orthodox adjective

/ˈɔːθədɒks/ /ˈɔːɹθədɑks/

Conforming to the accepted, established, or traditional doctrines of a given faith, religion, or ideology.

"The church's teachings on marriage were strictly orthodox. "

subject adjective

/ˈsʌb.dʒɪkt/ /ˈsʌb.dʒɛkt/ /səbˈdʒɛkt/

Likely to be affected by or to experience something.

"The students are subject to strict rules about late arrivals. "

authority noun

/ɔːˈθɒɹəti/ /əˈθɑɹəti/

The power to enforce rules or give orders.

"I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them."