Autocephaly

Autocephaly is the status of a church whose hierarchy governs itself rather than answering to a superior regional church. It is especially associated with the organization of Eastern Orthodox churches.

Ecclesiastical jurisdiction: The authority of a church body over clergy, institutions, and territory. Autocephaly changes which hierarchy holds jurisdiction over a church.
Orthodox Church of Ukraine: An Eastern Orthodox church established in Ukraine in 2018 and granted autocephaly by Constantinople in 2019. Its recognition by some Orthodox churches and rejection by others illustrates contested autocephaly.
Autonomy in Eastern Orthodoxy: A form of church self-government that remains under the authority of a parent autocephalous church. Autonomy grants internal control without the full independence associated with autocephaly.
Eastern Orthodox Church: A communion of self-governing churches sharing Orthodox theology, worship, and sacramental life. Autocephaly is one of the organizing principles of this communion.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: The senior hierarch of the Church of Constantinople, holding a primacy of honor among Orthodox bishops. His authority to grant autocephaly is disputed by other Orthodox churches.
Orthodox Church of America: An Eastern Orthodox church in North America granted autocephaly by the Moscow Patriarchate in 1970. Constantinople and several other churches do not recognize its autocephalous status.
Eastern Catholic Churches: Eastern Christian churches in communion with the pope while retaining distinct liturgies and traditions. Their self-governing structures operate within papal communion, unlike autocephalous Orthodox churches.
Nationalism: A political principle that treats national identity and self-determination as foundations of political life. National movements have often pressed for church structures independent of foreign hierarchies.
Tomos of autocephaly: A formal ecclesiastical decree establishing a church's autocephalous status. A tomos is a common instrument for declaring a church independent.
Church of Greece: An autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church governing most Orthodox dioceses in Greece. Its independence was formally recognized by Constantinople in the nineteenth century.

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