The meaning and role of the episcopate in the life of the Church (according to the works of the holy fathers and church writers of the 2nd-4th centuries)

Abstract

The apostolic ministry, so essential to the entire "economy of salvation," could not cease with the death of the apostles: by its nature, it was such that it undoubtedly presupposed the presence of successors. The first evidence of the existence in the consciousness of the Church of the idea of ​​the divine institution of the priesthood and the successive transmission of hierarchical ministry is found in the works of the apostolic fathers. In the ancient Church, according to the testimony of Christian writers and holy fathers, the church hierarchy consisted of three degrees: bishop, presbyter, deacon. The first and highest degree of the priesthood was made up of bishops (from the Greek - observer), who were the bearers of the fullness of the grace of the priesthood and the performers of all seven sacraments of the Christian Church. The second degree of the priesthood consisted of presbyters (from the Greek - elders), the third - deacons (from the Greek - servant). In their works, the holy fathers and church writers expound the teaching on the high significance of the divine institution of the hierarchy. They recognize the unity of faith and the unity of the members of the Church of Christ, unconditionally and exclusively dependent on submission to the hierarchy. According to their teaching, the bishop is God's representative, and only in communion with him and with the hierarchy in general can one fulfill the duties of a Christian. The Church exists only where there is a divinely instituted hierarchy. This means that the church hierarchy is necessary; without it there is not and cannot be a Church. Only under the condition of the existence of the church hierarchy is the existence of the Sacraments in it possible, through which believing Christians - the children of the Church - receive sanctification and salvation.