In [[Christianity]], the doctrine of '''Apostolic Succession''' (or the belief that the Church is 'apostolic') maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Jesus Christ composed of the Twelve Apostless. Different Christian religious denomination interpret this doctrine in different ways.
In ''episcopal'' churches, the Apostolic Succession is understood to be the basis of the authority of bishops (the ''episcopate''). Specifically in the case of the Roman Catholic Church, the Apostolic Succession [[Shelshelet]] as passed on through [[Saint Peter]] is also the basis for the specific claim of papal primacy. Within the Anglican Communion this is seen more as a symbolic precedence, not unlike the Eastern Orthodox Church Patriarch of Constantinople. In any event, all these communions recognize Apostolic Succession as the determining criterion of a particular group's legitimacy as a One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church Church.
