🕊️ Out of the 45,000+ Christian denominations in the world today, who has the real Apostolic Succession?

🟩 The Roman Catholic Church (and to a degree, the Eastern Orthodox and some Oriental Orthodox Churches) are the only ones who can historically and theologically claim valid and continuous Apostolic Succession from the Apostles of Jesus Christ.

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📜 What is Apostolic Succession?

Apostolic Succession is the unbroken line of ordained bishops from the Apostles themselves, passed on through the laying on of hands (see Acts 1:20–26, 2 Tim 2:2). This succession ensures:

• Valid Sacraments (especially the Eucharist and Holy Orders)

• Doctrinal faithfulness

• Ecclesial authority

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🔍 Which Churches Have Valid Apostolic Succession?

✅ 1. Roman Catholic Church
Founded by Christ through Peter in 33 A.D., the Catholic Church maintains direct, historical, and sacramental succession through every pope and bishop.

✅ 2. Eastern Orthodox Churches
Though separated from Rome since the Great Schism (1054 A.D.), they preserved valid succession and sacraments.

✅ 3. Oriental Orthodox Churches
Like the Coptic, Armenian, and Ethiopian Orthodox, these Churches also maintained valid succession after splitting from the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.).

✅ 4. Some Old Catholic Churches
Those who broke from Rome but preserved valid episcopal ordinations (e.g., Utrecht Union), though their theology may now be questionable.

✅ 5. Some Anglican/Episcopalian lines (disputed)
While Anglicans claim succession, the Catholic Church considers many of their ordinations invalid due to changes in form and intention (Pope Leo XIII, Apostolicae Curae, 1896).

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❌ Who Does Not Have Apostolic Succession?

❌ All Protestant denominations that arose after the Reformation (1517 onward), including:

• Lutherans

• Baptists

• Evangelicals

• Pentecostals

• Methodists

• Non-denominational churches

These groups rejected the sacrament of Holy Orders, and many don't even believe in a priesthood, thus they broke away from the Apostolic chain.

👉 Even if they “preach the Gospel,” they do not have the authority passed down from the Apostles.

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📖 What Does the Bible Say?

Acts 1:20–26 — The Apostles chose Matthias to replace Judas, showing that the apostolic office was meant to be continued.
2 Timothy 2:2 — “And what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

This handing down of teaching with authority is the core of Apostolic Succession.

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🧬 Why It Matters

Without Apostolic Succession:

• You cannot trace your Church to the Apostles

• Your Eucharist and Sacraments are not valid

• You do not have the authority to teach infallibly

• Your Church is founded by a man, not by Christ Himself

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✅ Conclusion: Only a Few Have True Apostolic Succession

Out of the 45,000+ denominations, only the Catholic Church (along with Eastern/Oriental Orthodox) has a clear, verifiable, unbroken line of bishops going back to the Apostles.

🕊️ Jesus founded One Church. That Church is still visible today—and it has a name: the Catholic Church.