APOSTOLIC

APOSTOLIC, Ἀποστολικός, Apostolicus, something that belongs to the Apostles, or descends from them. See APOSTLE.
Thus, we say the Apostolic Age, Apostolic Doctrine, Apostolic Character, etc. The Romanists call their Church, the Catholic and Apostolic Church; and thus appropriate a Title to Rome, which anciently was held in common with it by several other Churches. In the Primitive Church, the Appellation Apostolic was attributed to all such Churches as were founded by the Apostles; and even to the Bishops of those Churches, as being the reputed Successors of the Apostles.
These were confined to four; viz. Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.



In After-times other Churches assumed the same Quality on account, principally, of the Conformity of their Doctrine with that of the Churches which were Apostolical by Foundation, and because all Bishops held themselves Successors of the Apostles. See BISHOP.

The first time the Term Apostolical is attributed to Bishops, as such, is in a Letter of Clovis, to the Council of Orleans, held in 511; though that King does not there expressly denominate them Apostolical, but apostolica sede Dignissimi, Highly worthy of the Apostolical See. In 581, Guntram calls the Bishops met at the Council of Mâcon, Apostolical Pontiffs, Apostolici Pontifices. In the progress of Time, the Bishop of Rome growing in Power above the rest; and the three Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem falling into the hands of the Saracens; the Title Apostolical became restrained to the Pope and his Church alone. Though some of the Popes, as St. Gregory the Great, not contented to hold the Title by this Tenure, began, at length, to insist, that it belonged to them by another and peculiar Right, as being the Successors of St. Peter.

And hence a Legion of Apostolicals; Apostolical See, Apostolical Nuncio, Apostolical Notary, Apostolical Brief, Apostolical Chamber, etc.

APOSTOLIC