An apostolic see is an episcopal see whose foundation is attributed to one or more of the apostles of Jesus or to one of their close associates. In Catholicism, the phrase "the Apostolic See" when capitalized refers specifically to the See of Rome.Merriam-Webster: definition of apostolic seeCollins English Dictionary: Definition of 'apostolic see'
Tertullian (c. 155 − c. 240) gives examples of apostolic sees: he describes as churches "in which the very thrones of the apostles are still pre-eminent in their places, in which their own authentic writings are read, uttering the voice and representing the face of each of them severally" the following churches: Corinth, Philippi, Ephesus, and Rome.Tertullian, De praescriptione haereticorum, chapter 36; original Latin text
Tertullian says that from these "all the other churches, one after another, derived the tradition of the faith, and the seeds of doctrine, and are every day deriving them, that they may become churches. Indeed, it is on this account only that they will be able to deem themselves apostolic, as being the offspring of apostolic churches".Tertullian, De praescriptionibus adversus haereticos, chapter XX
Cited by early apologists for doctrinal authority
Tertullian himself and the slightly earlier Irenaeus (c. 130 – c. 200) speak of the succession of bishops of sees founded directly by the apostles as sources for sure Christian doctrine.
Irenaeus argues that, to know what is true Christian doctrine, it is enough to learn the teaching of some of the oldest churches or at least one, in particular that of Rome:Honoré Coppieters, "Apostolic Churches" in The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907) "If the apostles had known hidden mysteries, which they were in the habit of imparting to 'the perfect' apart and privily from the rest, they would have delivered them especially to those to whom they were also committing the churches themselves. [...] Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question?"
Tertullian's arguing is similar: From the apostles the churches they founded received the doctrine that the apostles received directly from Christ, and from those churches the more recent churches received the same doctrine. Every heresy is more recent and, being different, is erroneous.Tertullian, De praescriptionibus adversus haereticos, chapter xxxii
Distinct from jurisdictional authority
Jurisdictional authority of particular episcopal sees over others is not necessarily associated with the apostolic origin of the see. Thus, the fourth canon of the First Council of Nicaea of 325 attributed to the bishop of the capital (metropolis) of each Roman province (the "metropolitan bishop") a position of authority among the bishops of the province, without reference to the founding figure of that bishop's see.First Council of Nicaea: canons 4, 6, 7
Its sixth canon the same council recognized the wider authority, extending beyond a single imperial province, traditionally held by Rome and Alexandria, and the prerogatives of the churches in Antioch and the other provinces.First Council of Nicaea: canon 6
Of Aelia, the Roman city built on the site of the destroyed city of Jerusalem, the council's seventh canon reads: "Since custom and ancient tradition have prevailed that the Bishop of Aelia should be honoured, let him, saving its due dignity to the Metropolis, have the next place of honour."First Council of Nicaea: canon 7 The metropolis in question is generally taken to be Caesarea Maritima,Brian E. Daley, "Position and Patronage in the Early Church" in Everett Ferguson, Norms of Faith and Life (Taylor & Francis 1999 ), p. 207Jonathan Z. Smith, To Take Place (University of Chicago Press 1992 ), p. 78Ian Gilman, Hans-Joachim Klimkeit, Christians in Asia before 1500 (Routledge 2013 ), p. 28Lucy Grig, Gavin Kelly, Two Romes (Oxford University Press 2012 ), p. 354 though in the late 19th century Philip Schaff also mentioned other views.Schaff's Seven Ecumenical Councils: First Nicaea: Canon VII: "It is very hard to determine just what was the 'precedence' granted to the Bishop of Ælia, nor is it clear which is the metropolis referred to in the last clause. Most writers, including Hefele, Balsamon, Aristenus and Beveridge consider it to be Cæsarea; while Zonaras thinks Jerusalem to be intended, a view recently adopted and defended by Fuchs; others again suppose it is Antioch that is referred to."
The see of Constantinople was elevated to a position of jurisdictional prominence not on the grounds of apostolic origin but because of its political importance as the capital of the Roman Empire. The First Council of Constantinople (381), held in what by then had been the political capital for half a century, decreed in a canon of disputed validity: "The Bishop of Constantinople, however, shall have the prerogative of honour after the Bishop of Rome; because Constantinople is New Rome." It was later ranked second among the sees in the theory of Pentarchy: "[F]ormulated in the legislation of the emperor Justinian I (527–565), especially in his Novella 131, the theory received formal ecclesiastical sanction at the Council in Trullo (692), which ranked the five sees as Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem."Encyclopædia Britannica: Pentarchy
For another pentarchic see, that of Alexandria, the reputed founder and close associate of the apostle Peter, Saint Mark, is not called an apostle in the New Testament.
Sees or churches viewed as founded by apostles or their close associates Alexandria (Coptic, Coptic Catholic, Greek Orthodox): Saint Mark the EvangelistSaint Mark is not called an apostle in the New Testament, but he is said to have been one of the Seventy Apostles and to have been commissioned as an apostle when he accompanied Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas in their apostolic journeys. Antioch (Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Melkite, Syriac Catholic, Syriac Orthodox): Saint Peter Aquileia: Saint Mark the Evangelist as one of the Seventy Apostles Armenia (Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church):Apostolic Succession of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia for Armenian Catholics Thaddaeus (Jude the Apostle) and Bartholomew the Apostle Athens: Saint Paul Bulgarian Orthodox Church: Saint Andrew Constantinople: Saint Andrew Corinth: Saint Paul Cyprus, based at New Justiniana (Erdek): Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas Ephesus: John the Apostle and Saint Paul Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church maintains that Christianity was originally introduced to Ethiopia through Saint Philip the Evangelist Georgian Orthodox Church: Saint Andrew and Saint Simon the Canaanite Goa and Maharashtra: Bartholomew the Apostle – Roman martyrology of the Catholic Church mentions a tradition that Bartholomew the Apostle preached in India. The studies of Fr A.C. Perumalil SJ and Moraes hold that the Bombay region on the Konkan coast, a region which may have been known as the ancient city Kalyan, was the field of Saint Bartholomew's missionary activities. Another unofficial book entitled ‘Martyrdom of Bartholomew’ says that, though he is generally said to have been martyred in Armenia,Encyclopaedia Britannica: "Saint Bartholomew" he was martyred in India. In these texts, two kings named Polyamus and Astriyagis have been described. Circa AD 55 the king named Pulaimi ruled near Kalyan, who in Latin language is called as Polyamus and King Aristakarman, who succeeded Pulaimi, might have a Latin name of Astriyais and it is in Goan tradition that the Apostle preached in Goa and Maharashtra. Jerusalem (Greek Orthodox, Latin): Saint Peter and Saint James Malta: Saint Paul Milan: Saint Barnabas Patras: Saint AndrewActs and Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Andrew (ad finem) Philippi: Saint Paul Romania: Saint Andrew, who is said to have preached in Scythia (identified with Scythia Minor, Dobruja, and the Metropolitan of Tomis). Rome: Saint Peter and Saint Paul The Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine claim a connection with Saint Andrew, who is said to have visited the area where the city of Kyiv later arose. Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala claim a connection with Thomas the Apostle; they are now divided between (in alphabetic order): Chaldean Syrian Church, Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, Malabar Independent Syrian Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Mar Thoma Syrian Church, St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Santiago de Compostela: Saint James the Great Seleucia-Ctesiphon or Babylon (claimed by, in alphabetical order, Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church): Thomas the Apostle, Bartholomew the Apostle, and Thaddeus of Edessa Syracuse: Saint Peter Thessalonica: Saint PaulCraig A. Evans, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Acts-Philemon (David C. Cook, 2004), p. 610)
Apostles or their close associates claimed as founders of sees Andrew: Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Constantinople, Corinth, Georgian Orthodox Church, Patras, Romanian Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of Ukraine Barnabas: Cyprus, Milan Bartholomew: Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church, Babylon James, brother of Jesus: Jerusalem (Greek Orthodox, Latin) James the Great: Santiago de Compostela John: Ephesus Mark: Alexandria (Coptic, Coptic Catholic, Greek Orthodox), Aquileia Paul: Athens, Cyprus, Malta, Philippi, Rome, Thessalonica, Illyria (Albanian Orthodox Church) Peter: Antioch (Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Melkite, Syriac Catholic, Syriac Orthodox), Jerusalem (Greek Orthodox, Latin), Rome, Syracuse Philip the Evangelist: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Simon the Canaanite: Georgian Orthodox Church Thaddaeus/Jude the Apostle: Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church, Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church (Babylon) Thaddeus of Edessa: Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church (Babylon) Thomas: Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church (Babylon); Saint Thomas Christians. The latter are now divided between (in alphabetical order): Chaldean Syrian Church, Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, Malabar Independent Syrian Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Mar Thoma Syrian Church, St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Rome as the Apostolic See