\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.
2. According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or
   taught by the apostles; as, apostolic faith or practice.
3. Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal.
{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.

\Ap`os*tol"ic\, 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.