In hierarchical Christian churches, especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, when a high-ranking bishop, such as a patriarch, releases an ecclesiastical province from his authority while remaining in full communion with that newly independent church, he is granting autocephaly.
When a high-ranking bishop, such as a patriarch, releases an ecclesiastical province from his authority while remaining in full communion with that newly independent church, he is granting autocephaly. In hierarchical Christian churches, especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, autocephaly is the status of a hierarchical church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop.
In hierarchical Christian churches, especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, autocephaly is the status of a hierarchical church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. When a high-ranking bishop, such as a patriarch, releases an ecclesiastical province from his authority while remaining in full communion with that newly independent church, he is granting autocephaly.
In hierarchical Christian churches, especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, autocephaly is the status of a hierarchical church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. When a high-ranking bishop, such as a patriarch, releases an ecclesiastical province from his authority while remaining in full communion with that newly independent church, he is granting autocephaly.