apostolic succession

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Anglican Church.

1. 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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Apostolic succession British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of apostolic succession

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The blessing the Holy Father brings to us – and the reason why we salute him so joyfully – is the reaffirmation of our Catholic faith, grounded in the apostolic succession and tradition.

From Washington Post • Mar. 14, 2013

This made him wonder how many bishops a space colony would have to take along to uphold apostolic succession.

From Slate • Oct. 5, 2011

The cultlike nature of Straussianism is evident from the pride that many Straussian intellectuals take in delineating the apostolic succession that links them to the prophet himself.

From Salon • Jun. 15, 2010

One of the knottiest ecclesiastical problems to be ironed out: the Anglican belief that the ministry must be in the line of "apostolic succession," as against the Congregationalist concept of the "ministry of all believers."

From Time Magazine Archive

Keble, Newman, Time and the Hour, called out for the assertion of the claim that the Church of England was the true heir of the apostolic succession.

From Modern Leaders: Being a Series of Biographical Sketches by McCarthy, Justin