Apostolic Succession - Apostolic Founders

Apostolic Founders

An early understanding of apostolic succession is represented by the traditional claims of various churches, as organized around important episcopal sees, to have been founded by specific apostles. On the basis of these traditions, the churches in question often claim to have inherited specific authority, doctrines and/or practices on the authority of their founding apostle(s), which is understood to be continued by the bishops of the see (seat) or throne of the church that each founded and whose original leader he was. Thus:

The See of Rome claims to have been founded by Saint Peter, traditionally called the "Prince of the Apostles" and the "Chief of the Apostles".

The Patriarchate of Constantinople claims Saint Andrew as its founder.

The Patriarchate of Alexandria (Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria) claims to have been founded by Saint Mark.

The Patriarchate of Antioch (Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, Syriac Orthodox Church, Syriac Catholic Church, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and the Whole Levant) claims unbroken succession to the Throne of Saint Peter.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem claims to have been founded by Saint James the Just.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, based at Etchmiadzin, claims to have been founded by Saints Bartholomew and Jude.

The following bodies claim to have been founded by Saint Thomas the Apostle: the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church, originating in or around Mesopotamia, and churches based in Kerala, India having Syriac roots and generically known as the Saint Thomas Christians: the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church claims founding by Saint Philip the Evangelist.

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus, based at New Justiana (Erdek), claims to have been founded by the apostles Saints Paul and Barnabas

The Russian Orthodox Church claims a connection with Saint Andrew, who is said to have visited the area where the city of Kiev later arose.