autokephaalisia

Autokephaalisia refers to the status of an Eastern Orthodox Church or Oriental Orthodox Church that is self-governing and independent of any higher ecclesiastical authority. The term "autocephalous" is derived from Greek, meaning "self-headed." This means that the highest authority within such a church is its own synod of bishops, and its primate (often a patriarch, metropolitan, or archbishop) is elected or appointed by this synod.

An autocephalous church is not subject to the jurisdiction of another church, though it remains in communion with other autocephalous churches that adhere to the same Orthodox Christian tradition. This independence does not imply isolation; rather, it signifies the church's ability to govern its own internal affairs, including matters of doctrine, liturgy, canon law, and the election of its leadership.

The concept of autocephaly is rooted in the early history of Christianity and developed as the church expanded geographically. Historically, certain ancient sees, such as Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, held a special primacy, but this was often understood as a primacy of honor rather than of absolute jurisdiction over all other churches. Over time, various national or regional churches achieved autocephalous status, reflecting the political and cultural realities of their contexts. Today, the Eastern Orthodox communion consists of a number of autocephalous churches, each with its own distinct administrative structure.