n. [ L. apostolatus, fr. apostolus. See Apostle. ] 1. The dignity, office, or mission, of an apostle; apostleship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Judas had miscarried and lost his apostolate. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The dignity or office of the pope, as the holder of the apostolic see. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. apostolicus. ] (Eccl. Hist.) A member of one of certain ascetic sects which at various times professed to imitate the practice of the apostles. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. apostolicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. apostolique. ] 1. Pertaining to an apostle, or to the apostles, their times, or their peculiar spirit; as, an apostolical mission; the apostolic age. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or taught by the apostles; as, apostolic faith or practice. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Apostolical brief. See under Brief. --
Apostolic canons, a collection of rules and precepts relating to the duty of Christians, and particularly to the ceremonies and discipline of the church in the second and third centuries. --
Apostolic church, the Christian church; -- so called on account of its apostolic foundation, doctrine, and order. The churches of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem were called apostolic churches. --
Apostolic constitutions, directions of a nature similar to the apostolic canons, and perhaps compiled by the same authors or author. --
Apostolic fathers, early Christian writers, who were born in the first century, and thus touched on the age of the apostles. They were Polycarp, Clement, Ignatius, and Hermas; to these Barnabas has sometimes been added. --
Apostolic king (or
majesty), a title granted by the pope to the kings of Hungary on account of the extensive propagation of Christianity by St. Stephen, the founder of the royal line. It is now a title of the emperor of Austria in right of the throne of Hungary. --
Apostolic see, a see founded and governed by an apostle; specifically, the Church of Rome; -- so called because, in the Roman Catholic belief, the pope is the successor of St. Peter, the prince of the apostles, and the only apostle who has successors in the apostolic office. --
Apostolical succession, the regular and uninterrupted transmission of ministerial authority by a succession of bishops from the apostles to any subsequent period. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an apostolic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Apostolicity. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (R. C. Ch.) The diplomatic agent of the pope highest in grade, superior to a nuncio. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } n. The state or quality of being apostolical. [ 1913 Webster ]