1) Self-governing 
• (a.) Having its own head; independent of episcopal or patriarchal jurisdiction, as certain Greek churches.
Au`to·ceph'a·lous adjective [ Greek ... independent; ... self + ... head.] (Eccl. Hist.) Having its own head; independent of episcopal or patriarchal jurisdiction, as certain Greek churches. 
autocephalous 1. Of a church, having its own head; independent of episcopal or patriarchal jurisdiction, as certain Greek churches are. 2. Of a bishop, subordinate to no superior church authority; self governing.
Independent or self-governing; an Orthodox church that was headed by its own patriarch (q.v.).