Patristics

“See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons as being the instrument of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either [90] by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it.” Ignatius, Smyrnaeans, VIII, ANF 1:89-90