Apostolic Succession
... Thus, no direct relationship between a man and God existed, leaving the Church as the sole mediator on Europe’s behalf due to the Doctrine of Apostolic Succession. Apostolic Succession is the transcendence of power and knowledge from the original apostles associated with Jesus Christ the Messiah to bishops at ordination, thus forming a link between the two. Bishops are considered the inheritors of the knowledge of Christ through their apostolic ancestors. The significance of apostolic succession in the church’s rise to power is its ability to legitimize the rule of the church and the pope.