[kosta50]

According to my calendar, the Orthodox walked out on Rome approximately 500 years before the Protestants

Gee, why am I not surprised? You could have said the Church split, but as far as I know the Orthodox or the Catholics never left the Church.

The authority of the Church comes from the Apostolic succession, and the validity of clergy and sacraments from that authoirty.

Protestant "authority" is arrogated by the prototype of the original me-me generation. It's a man-made "church," imo.

[Kolokotronis]

"It's a man-made "church," imo."

I love the quotation marks! Always the gentleman, Kosta. We Greeks wouldn't have been that kind! :)

[wmfights]

The authority of the Church comes from the Apostolic succession, and the validity of clergy and sacraments from that authoirty.

Thus the authority of your church does not extend beyond your church. The THEORY of Apostolic Succession falls apart when you exam the lives of the Apostles. They were missionaries not Bishops. They did not elevate themselves above the leaders that individual congregations selected.