apostolic succession

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noun Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Anglican Church.

the unbroken line of succession beginning with the apostles and perpetuated through bishops, considered essential for orders and sacraments to be valid.

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Origin of apostolic succession

First recorded in 1830–40

Words nearby apostolic succession

apostolic age, Apostolic Church, apostolic delegate, Apostolic Fathers, Apostolic See, apostolic succession, Apostolos, apostrophe, apostrophize, apothecaries' measure, apothecaries' weight

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use apostolic succession in a sentence

All this, in a so-called apostolic succession, is not only anti-apostolic, but anti-Christian.
Expositor's Bible: The Second Epistle to the Corinthians|James Denney
Vincent's, notwithstanding its acknowledged chieftaincy, depended ultimately too much on a mechanically apostolic succession.
Sinister Street, vol. 2|Compton Mackenzie
The links in the chain of supposed apostolic succession are so bloody, that even the "dark ages" cannot conceal their crimson hue.
Spencer's Letters|Orson Spencer
Thus Moscow became indisputably the head of the Orthodox Church, by direct apostolic succession.
The Story of Moscow|Wirt Gerrare

They might be trusted not to choose Apostolic Succession as their subject.
Rebuilding Britain|Alfred Hopkinson

British Dictionary definitions for apostolic succession

Apostolic succession

noun

the doctrine that the authority of Christian bishops derives from the Apostles through an unbroken line of consecration

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012