Apostolic Succession and Authority
As taught in the Eastern Orthodox tradition
The historical and spiritual continuity of the Church through the episcopacy.
The question of authority is the "hinge" upon which the door of the Church turns. In the Orthodox tradition, when we ask, "By what authority does the Church teach, baptise, and forgive sins?" we are not looking for a legalistic charter or a purely bureaucratic hierarchy. Instead, we are looking at a living, breathing continuity of the Holy Spirit’s presence—a "chain of grace" that stretches from the upper room at Pentecost to the present-day altar of the local parish. This concept is encapsulated in the doctrine of Apostolic Succession.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the biblical and historical distinction between the office of the Bishop (*Episkopos*) and the Presbyter (*Presbyteros*) as understood in the Orthodox tradition.
- **Distinguish** between the "succession of faith" (teaching) and the "succession of laying on of hands" (sacramental), explaining why the Orthodox LENS requires both.
- **Explain** the role of the Holy Spirit in the act of *Cheirotonia* (ordination) and how this prevents the office from being viewed as a purely human "promotion."
- **Articulate** the relationship between the local Bishop and the "Catholicity" of the Church, using the phrase "where the Bishop is, there is the Church."
- **Trace** the historical development of the Episcopacy from the Twelve Apostles to the early Church Fathers like St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Irenaeus.
- **Defend** the necessity of valid Apostolic Succession for the validity of the Holy Eucharist and the other Mysteries of the Church.
- **Apply** the principle of *Sobornost* (conciliarity) to understand how Bishops function together in synods to preserve truth.
- **Compare** the Orthodox understanding of Apostolic authority with the Roman Catholic view of Papal Supremacy and the Protestant view of *Sola Scriptura*.
Scripture
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