…judges Francis’ idea that the Orthodox are no longer schismatics
-
No others ought to be received as preachers than those whom Christ appointed
Since the Lord Jesus Christ sent the apostles to preach, (our rule is) that no others ought to be received as preachers than those whom Christ appointed; for ‘no man knows the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him’ (Mt 11:27). Nor does the Son seem to have revealed Him to any other than the apostles, whom He sent forth to preach– that, of course, which He revealed to them. Now, what that was which they preached– in other words, what it was which Christ revealed to them – can, as I must here likewise prescribe, properly be proved in no other way than by those very churches which the apostles founded in person, by declaring the gospel to them directly themselves, both vivâ voce, as the phrase is, and subsequently by their epistles. (Tertullian. The Prescription against heresies, XXI)
