👉 The term "autocephalous" refers to a religious or spiritual leader who is not appointed by a king or other sovereign, but rather is selected by and serves as an autonomous ruler. This concept was first introduced in the context of Catholicism, where it describes the Pope as the sole head of the Church. In this sense, a "autocephalous" church is one that does not follow any specific ecclesiastical hierarchy or structure established by a monarch or other sovereign figure. Instead,