Bishops As Successors to the Aposttes According to John Chrysostom: Ecclesiastical Authority in the Early Church

An analysis of St. John Chrysostom's writings, this work provides unique insight into early Church authority and leadership by charting the evolution of the role of the bishop.The research contained in this book was conducted as a testimony to the celebration of the 1600th anniversary of the repose of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, in 2007. The First Ecumenical Synod of Nicaea is a prime example of hierarchical power because bishops throughout Christendom assembled together under the authority and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to clearly define and protect orthodox Church doctrine against heresy, clarify the relationships between local bishops and their churches, and establish a unified celebration of the Paschal Feast. In his writings, Chrysostom identifies the person of the bishop with the Church of God and discusses at length the Christocentric and apostolistic foundations of the episcopate. The diverse functions and characteristics of the bishop and the severity of episcopal misuse take center stage.