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How does Eastern Orthodoxy distinguish the role of an Apostle from the role of a bishop?
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Eastern Orthodoxy
Jesus Christ, detail of the Deesis mosaic, from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, 12th century.
In Eastern Orthodoxy, the distinction between an Apostle and a bishop is rooted in the difference between their historical roles and their functional responsibilities.1
- The Apostle: The office of the Apostle is viewed as a universal witness to the historical Jesus and his Resurrection. Apostles were those specifically commissioned by Christ to carry out his work and provide eyewitness testimony.213
- The Bishop: The office of the bishop is understood in terms of pastoral and sacramental responsibility for a specific local community, or diocese. Bishops serve as the guardians of the faith and the center of the sacramental life of their community.1
While the Eastern Orthodox Church maintains the doctrine of apostolic succession—the belief that the ministry of the bishop is in direct continuity with that of the Apostles—this continuity is defined as a continuity in faith rather than a continuity in function. The bishop does not replicate the unique historical role of the Apostle but rather carries forward the apostolic tradition within the life of the church.1