| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷+|sefələs adjective
Etymology: Late Greek autokephalos, from Greek aut- + -kephalos (from kephalē head) — more at cephalic
Eastern Orthodox Church : independent , self-governing : not under the jurisdiction of another — used of a church that appoints its own chief bishop without outside sanction and enters into direct relations with other churches but is in communion with the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople and thus with all other Orthodox churches