Autonomy (Eastern Orthodoxy)

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.^[1][2][3]

Kephale (κεφαλή) means "head" in Greek,^[4] whereas nomos (νόμος) means "law".^[5] Hence, autocephalous (αὐτοκέφαλος) denotes self-headed,^[6] 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