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In Eastern Orthodoxy, autonomy designates a type of limited self-government of a church (group) toward its mother church. An autonomous church is self-governing in some aspects, which differentiates it from a non-autonomous church. The aspects on which the autonomous church is self-governing depends on the decision of the mother church. A church that is autonomous has its highest-ranking bishop, such as an archbishop or metropolitan, approved (or ordained) by the primate of the mother church.

Kephale (κεφαλή) means "head" in Greek, whereas nomos (νόμος) means "law". Hence, autocephalous (αὐτοκέφαλος) denotes self-headed, or a "head unto itself"; and autonomous denotes "self-legislated".

See also

• Eastern Orthodox Church organization#Autonomous Eastern Orthodox churches
• Autocephaly
• Eparchy
• Tomos (Eastern Orthodox Church)
• Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church

References

1. "A Dictionary of Orthodox Terminology - Part 1 (A–H) – Introduction to Orthodoxy Articles". Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
2. "Autocephalous / Autonomous - Questions & Answers". Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
3. Ware, Timothy (1997). "Introduction". The Orthodox Church. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-192500-4. There are in addition several Churches which, while self-governing in most respects, do not possess full independence. These are termed 'autonomous' but not 'autocephalous'
4. "κεφαλή – Ancient Greek (LSJ)". Liddell, Scott, Jones Ancient Greek Lexicon. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
5. "νόμος – Ancient Greek (LSJ)". Liddell, Scott, Jones Ancient Greek Lexicon. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
6. Erickson, John H. (1991). The challenge of our past : studies in Orthodox Canon law and Church history. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. p. 132. ISBN 0-88141-086-1. OCLC 23254257.

Further reading

• "АВТОНОМНАЯ ЦЕРКОВЬ". www.pravenc.ru. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
• Цыпин, Владислав (2004). "27. Церковь и территория. Церковная диаспора. Автокефальные и автономные Церкви". Курс церковного права : Учеб. пособие (in Russian). Христиан. жизнь.
• "Autonomy and the Means by Which it is Proclaimed". Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church. Retrieved 2022-06-11.

v t e Eastern Orthodox Church
Autocephalous and autonomous churches of Eastern Orthodoxy
Autocephalous churches	Four ancient patriarchates Constantinople Bartholomew I Alexandria Theodore II Antioch John X Jerusalem Theophilos III Junior patriarchates Russia Kirill Serbia Porfirije Bulgaria Daniil Romania Daniel Georgia Ilia II Autocephalous archdioceses/metropolises Cyprus George III Greece Ieronymos II Albania Anastasios Poland Sawa Czech Lands and Slovakia Rastislav America Tikhon Ukraine Epiphanius North Macedonia Stefan
Autonomous churches	Sinai Finland (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Estonia (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Japan (Moscow Patriarchate) China (Moscow Patriarchate) Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate) Americas (Romanian Patriarchate) Bessarabia (Romanian Patriarchate) Moldova (Moscow Patriarchate) Semi-autonomous churches Crete (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Estonia (Moscow Patriarchate) Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Diaspora Assemblies	Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania Austria Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg Canada France Germany Great Britain and Ireland Italy and Malta Latin America Scandinavia Spain and Portugal Switzerland and Liechtenstein United States of America
History	Apostles in the New Testament First seven ecumenical councils Church Fathers Great Church State church of the Roman Empire East–West Schism Raskol Old Believers Catacomb Church Old Calendarists Moscow–Constantinople schisms 15th–16th c. 1996 2018
Liturgy	Byzantine Rite Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Liturgy of Saint Basil Liturgy of Saint James Liturgy of Saint Mark Western Rite
Other	Unrecognized Eastern Orthodox churches Eastern Orthodoxy by country Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Christianity portal The ROC severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018, and later severed full communion with the primates of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Church of Cyprus in 2020. ^ Autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized. UOC-MP was moved to formally cut ties with the ROC as of May 27th 2022. ^ Semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church whose autonomy is not universally recognized.

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