Autocephaly

Autocephaly (from autos, self, and kephale, head) is the status of an Orthodox church that is fully self-governing: it elects its own head, celebrates the eucharist without commemorating another patriarch, and consecrates its own chrism. The fourteen (or fifteen) autocephalous Orthodox churches are in communion with one another but independent in governance. The granting of autocephaly has historically been a source of controversy, as witnessed in the recent dispute over the Ukrainian church.