Nikos Nissiotis

This article by Greek theologian Nikos Nissiotis, a contribution to the Groupe des Dombes, offers a systematic study of the nature and function of episcopal priesthood in the Orthodox tradition. Taking both a historical and theological approach, Nissiotis argues that the episcopate can only be understood in terms of the eucharistic and charismatic community, and not according to an individual line of succession directly linking Christ to the bishops. The main contribution of the article is to move beyond the opposition between institution and charism by showing that episcopal authority is fundamentally communal, eucharistic and eschatological. This approach makes it possible to critique both the juridical ecclesiologies of the Catholic Churches and the rejection of the episcopate in certain Protestant traditions, thus opening up prospects for ecumenical convergence on the question of ordained ministry.