Apostolic church

Apostolic \Ap`os*tol"ic\, Apostolical \Ap`os*tol"ic*al\, a. [L.
   apostolicus, Gr. ?: 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.
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   2. According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or
      taught by the apostles; as, apostolic faith or practice.
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   3. Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal.
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   {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.
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Church \Church\ (ch[^u]rch), n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche,
   Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel.
   kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all
   fr. Gr. kyriako`n the Lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning
   a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power,
   might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra hero, Zend. [,c]ura strong,
   OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. {Kirk}.]
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   1. A building set apart for Christian worship.
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   2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37.
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   3. A formally organized body of Christian believers
      worshiping together. "When they had ordained them elders
      in every church." --Acts xiv. 23.
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   4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed,
      observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same
      ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman
      Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.
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   5. The collective body of Christians.
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   6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church
      of Brahm.
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   7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community;
      ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array
      the power of the church against some moral evil.
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            Remember that both church and state are properly the
            rulers of the people, only because they are their
            benefactors.                          --Bulwer.
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   Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something
         belonging or relating to the church; as, church
         authority; church history; church member; church music,
         etc.
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   {Apostolic church}. See under {Apostolic}.

   {Broad church}. See {Broad Church}.

   {Catholic church} or {Universal church}, the whole body of
      believers in Christ throughout the world.

   {Church of England}, or {English church}, the Episcopal
      church established and endowed in England by law.

   {Church living}, a benefice in an established church.

   {Church militant}. See under {Militant}.

   {Church owl} (Zool.), the white owl. See {Barn owl}.

   {Church rate}, a tax levied on parishioners for the
      maintenance of the church and its services.

   {Church session}. See under {Session}.

   {Church triumphant}. See under {Triumphant}.

   {Church work}, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work
      of a particular church for the spread of religion.

   {Established church}, the church maintained by the civil
      authority; a state church.
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