La “sucesión episcopal” en la Iglesia de Esmirna

Abstract

This article seeks to identify the most significant leaders in the Christian community of Smyrna from its foundation up to the Council of Nicaea. The difficulty of such identification arises from the relative paucity of historical sources; and then again from the methodological question of how best to make accurate use of them. Smyrna was founded under the wing of Pauline preaching between the years 53 and 56. It soon became enriched by the emigration of Christians from Jerusalem following the year 70 – so much so that towards the year 95 it becomes possible to speak there of an emerging institution of the episcopate, corresponding, perhaps, to the “angel of the church of Smyrna” of Rv 2, 8. During the second century and the figure of Polycarp, this institution of the episcopacy becomes more consolidated; most especially with the passing of Ignatius through the city. Papinius, Alce, Marcion, Evaristus and above all Irenaeus figure as among the most important disciples of Polycarp. By the end of the second century, however, our sources appear to indicate a much more diluted institution: a tendency that was probably encouraged by the heresy and schism of Noetus. In the mid third-century we find the sad figure of the apostate bishop Euctemon; but then also, and by contrast, the death of the martyr Pionius, which aroused new energies in the community and perhaps led to the compilation of a large part of its history. Finally, in the lists of the Council of Nicaea, there appears clearly and unambiguously the name of Eutiques as the representative of this Church.