Apostolic Succession

[Journeyman]

I have a couple questions about apostolic succession —

Regarding the Eastern Orthodox Church, how is it that they have apostolic succession? And how did the churches of the Protestant Reformation lose apostolic succession, particularly under Martin Luther and King Henry VIII?

These questions are really about why we recognize the Eastern Orthodox church as having valid holy orders and valid Eucharist, but not in the Protestant churches.

Thanks in advance for replies.

 

[crazzeto]

The great schism was basically an East / West split. There was no general disagreement about doctrine. So the East went their seperate way with St. Andrew as their ultimate apostolic father (or so I understand).

The protestants on the other hand completely rejected a fairly sizable portion of the christian tradition as “popery”. More over they rejected the authority of the Church, they claimed the bible was the sole authority (and then went about the business of changing the bible. As well as adding anti-rome commentary all over the place in the bible).

Because, as a general rule, the reformation was about tossing out the authority of Christ’s Church, they lose (as a general rule) succession and valid orders. There are some exceptions.

 

[GKC]

The reasons for the RC attitude toward the Anglican apostolic succession are stated in Apostolicae CUrae. In brief, and without getting into technical details, it had nothing to do with breaking from Rome, but with defects alleged in the form and intent of sacramental consecration of bishops, particularly in 1559.

GKC

 

[1ke]

The Orthodox have valid Holy Orders, unbroken through their line of Bishops. Their Bishops validly ordain and therefore they maintain their Orders even though in schism (from the Catholic perspective) There are others that maintain valid Ordination (SSPX for example).

The various protestant denominations do not have valid ordination based on a variety of reasons. Some combination of invalid intent, invalid matter, or lack of authority to confer Holy Orders. This is the case with Anglican orders.

 

[agiosotheos]

And how did the churches of the Protestant Reformation lose apostolic succession, particularly under Martin Luther and King Henry VIII?

I’ve actually heard theories that the Church of Sweden and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland have preserved Apostolic Succession. I’m not sure what the Vatican has said about this.

 

[agiosotheos]

There was no general disagreement about doctrine.

Nonsense.

 

[agiosotheos]

Also, I believe Old Catholics are regarded by the Vatican as having maintained Apostolic Succession.