Autocephalic Churches
“Autocephalic” denotes independence or autonomy. Literally, it is “self-headed.” The autocephalic churches are understood to be the fourteen autocephalic churches of the Byzantine or Eastern Rite which are not in communion with the Church of Rome.
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.