Apostolic Succession

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So what is the definition of Apostolic Succession and is the Catholic Church the only one that can claim it?
 
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Aris:
So what is the definition of Apostolic Succession and is the Catholic Church the only one that can claim it?
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Dear Aris… just repeating something written before in answer to the second half of your question.

The oldest lineage of bishops which comes down to us in the 21st century who is a successor to St Peter is not actually the bishop (Pope) of the Church of Rome, but the bishop (Patriarch) of the Church of Antioch.

Check this article, from a Catholic source.

melkitecathedral.org/melkite/history3.htm

Peter’s First See

**The evolution of the Patriarchate of Antioch
**
The article features a fascinating photograph of three bishops with the apostolic succession of Saint Peter, photographed all together in Damascus in 2001.

Three successors of Peter

– Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I,
  • Pope John Paul II,
  • Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV
  • gather in the Syriac Orthodox Cathedral of St. George in Damascus, May 2001. (photo: L’Osservatore Romano)
Peter founded the Church of Antioch in 34 AD, and he remained there for 5-7 years. Paul (and Barnabas) came to Antioch to see Peter there and it was in Antioch that the dispute between Peter and Paul flared up about whether converts had to be circumcised. In order to resolve this Peter and Paul took the dispute to James in Jerusalem and James called all the Apostles to a Council in Jerusalem to make a determination.

Early than this, Antioch had received a large number of Christian refugees who fled Jerusalem after the martyrdom of Saint Stephen the deacon, a period of martyrdom in Jerusalem which Paul himself had initiated while he was still the uncoverted Saul!

To succeed him in Antioch Saint Peter consecrated Euodius (Evodius) as bishop of that city. Euodius was succeeded as bishop in Antioch by the great Saint and holy martyr Ignatius who was himself consecrated by either Saint Peter or Saint Paul. The Patriarch of Antioch is the 170th successor of Saint Peter. Here is a complete list of his apostolic succession from the holy Apostle Peter
antiochian.org/Patriarchate/patriarchs.htm

So the Church of Antioch founded by Saint Peter is a little bit older than Rome, and like Rome it has an unbroken apostolic succession going back to Saint Peter.
 
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Aris:
So how is Apostolic Succession defined?
It’s not very clear. It must be established what it is in order to see where it is applicable.
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It requires only a prima face, ordinary usage definition. It is made from two words. Apostolic, meaning from the Apostles; and succession - standard english definition. Succession requires two things, 2) the person in office decides to appoint a successor and 2) appoints someone.
 
So does the Orthodox Church have Apostolic Succession?

Does Apostolic Succession involve submission to the Pope?
 
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Aris:
So does the Orthodox Church have Apostolic Succession?
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DECREE ON ECUMENISM
"UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO"
Vatican II
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

These Churches, although separated from us, yet possess true sacraments and above all, by apostolic succession, the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are linked with us in closest intimacy. Therefore some worship in common (communicatio in sacris), given suitable circumstances and the approval of Church authority, is not only possible but to be encouraged.
 
“Apostolic succession” applies to, and should not be denied from, these 4 groups of apostolic Churches, unless convincing evidence shows otherwise:

(1) the Catholic Church (East and West);
(2) Eastern Orthodox Churches;
(3) Oriental Orthodox Churches; and
(4) Ancient Churches of the East, e.g., the Assyrians.

However, I think what distinguishes the “apostolic succession” involving St. Peter with respect to Rome versus Antioch (and all the other 3 ancient Patriarchates) is that the “Petrine Office” aka the Papacy, which we Catholics believe as divinely instituted, was/is through Rome only.
 
Before you can attempt to show someone how Apostolic Succession is an element of faith, you have to understand why they try so hard to dismiss it. If in fact Apostolic Succession is divinely ordained (which it is), then they have to accept that their entire system of faith is a fraud. Not that their faith is Jesus Christ is not authentic, in most cases it is. However, how can you continue in a religious system that is outside of what Jesus Christ established and still consider yourself faithful to Christ? That would be like spitting on the Constitution, diavowing the entire political system, and still considering yourself American.
 
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