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"The blessed apostles having founded and established the church,
entrusted the office of the episcopate to Linus. Paul speaks of this
Linus in his Epistles to Timothy. Anencletus succeeded him, and
after Anencletus, in the third place from the apostles, Clement
received the episcopate. He had seen and conversed with the blessed
apostles, and their preaching was still sounding in his ears, and
their tradition was still before his eyes. Nor was he alone in this,
for many who had been taught by the apostles yet survived. In the
times of Clement, a serious dissension having arisen among the
brethren in Corinth, the church of Rome sent a most suitable letter
to the Corinthians, reconciling them in peace, renewing their faith,
and proclaiming the doctrine lately received from the apostles." A
little farther on he says:
"Evarestus succeeded Clement, and Alexander, Evarestus. Then
Xystus, the sixth from the apostles, was appointed. After him
Telesphorus, who suffered martyrdom gloriously; then Hyginus; then
Pius; and after him Anicetus; Sorer succeeded Anicetus; and now,
in the twelfth place from the apostles,
Eleutherus holds the office of bishop. In the same order and
succession the tradition in the Church and the preaching of the truth
has descended from the apostles unto us."
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