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'''Apostolic succession''' refers to the Christian doctrine that holds modern churches to be the descendants of the early apostolic church through the sacramental handing down of authority through the episcopate. Most significantly, it considers that the authority to celebrate [[Sacrament|sacraments]] is dependent on being able to trace such authority back to the first apostles, who in turn received it directly from [[Christ]].

Churches of Apostolic succession see in their doctrine and practice a sure and biblical, though not infallible, means of receiving and perpetuating the Faith from one generation to another. This is because Apostolic succession requires "tactile" chosing and ordination, person to person, "eyeball to eyeball", from the Apostles onward, requiring the most heightened responsibility in the giving and receiving. It is believed that a visible concrete hands on chosing best authenticates to the people both the succeeding leaders and the teaching to be furthered. It is also believed that there is grace of the Holy Spirit transmitted by the laying of hands at the time of ordination. They see Apostolic succession in both the Old and the New Tetaments: