H
Hesychios
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It is predictable that Roman Catholic apologists do not quote Saint Ireneaus in full.Ever see the following quote? See any similarities?
[we do this, I say,] by indicating that ]tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles…
That’s from Irenaeus year ~180 a.d.
In book 3 chapter II he does say this …
[in referring to heretics he lists, mostly gnostics] we refer them to that tradition which originates from the apostles, [and] which is preserved by means of the succession of presbyters in the Churches
Churches, not church.
Then in chapter three he says this …
… if the apostles had known hidden mysteries, which they were in the habit of imparting to “the perfect” apart and privily from the rest [a gnostic claim], they would have delivered them especially to those to whom they were also committing the Churches themselves …
And then …
Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches … He could have recounted the succession of many churches, perhaps dozens in his day, if he had the means, the time, or if it was practical. But he didn’t, he had to cut back.
Then he goes on to describe two churches! Rome and the church of Asia.
But Roman Catholic apologists only report what he said about Rome, just like you did.
Which the Orthodox do to this day.…For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its pre- eminent authority …
Orthodox are in full agreement with what the church of Rome believed in 180AD because it was what all Orthodox Christians believed and that was as correct then as it is now. Rome was a great church, it was a touchstone, a well known measure against which the gnostics of his day could compare their own beliefs!
Sadly, Rome no longer shares this faith, Rome is no longer Orthodox.
The faith does not come through the church at Rome to the faithful everywhere, they have (as Saint Irenaeus points out) had it from the beginning in their own Apostolic origins.… that is, the faithful everywhere, inasmuch as the apostolical tradition has been preserved continuously by those [faithful men] who exist everywhere
The proper role of an Orthodox Catholic bishop is to preserve and conserve the faith, passing it along to the next generation unadulterated. Nothing less and nothing more than what is received from the Apostles. This is the true role of the Magisterium of bishops, and in the second century Rome was not a church of novelties but a forthright vehicle of the Apostolic Truth.
Bishop Irenaeus was a saint, but he was no prophet and he was not infallible. He was writing against the heresies of his day to the people of his day, and in his day Rome believed what Orthodox teach. He could not have known that the church at Rome would have changed it’s own teachings over the next 18 centuries.
And if it had not changed it’s teaching? Rome would be Orthodox still, but there is no warrant here for Rome to control the other churches of Christianity, nor to change their faith for them. You are making a common mistake by using Saint Irenaeus to try and support Papal Universal Jurisdiction, when the quote does not address jurisdiction but theology.