What is meant by apostolic succession?
Apostolic tradition mainly relates to the laying on of hands at
ordination, not to the giving of the Holy Spirit in general. The
belief in traditional churches is that ordained ministries date
back to the first apostles and derive their unique authority from
the unbroken chain of “apostolic succession” through
Peter and on to today’s bishops, and through their hands to
priests and deacons, as well as to laity through confirmation.
—Tom Ehrich
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