the pseudo-apostolic tradition of Gnosis. It is therefore, from the outset, closely connected with the question of what is truly apostolic; in particular, it is clear that successio and traditio were originally neighboring terms; the two concepts were at first practically synonymous and were even referred to with a single word, διαδοχή, which signified both “tradition” and “succession”.20 “Tradition” is indeed never a simple and anonymous handing on of teaching, but is linked to a person, is a living