# Church Fathers

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Early influential Christian theologians

"Fathers of the Church" redirects here. For the book series, see [The Fathers of the Church](/source/The_Fathers_of_the_Church).

"Ante-Nicene Fathers" redirects here. For the book, see [Ante-Nicene Fathers (book)](/source/Ante-Nicene_Fathers_(book)).

*The Church Fathers*, an 11th-century [Kievan Rus'](/source/Kievan_Rus') miniature from Svyatoslav's miscellany

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The **Church Fathers**, **Early Church Fathers**, **Christian Fathers**, or **Fathers of the Church** were ancient and influential [Christian theologians](/source/Christian_theologians) and writers who established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of [Christianity](/source/Christianity). The historical period in which they worked became known as the [Patristic Era](/source/Patristics) and spans approximately from the late 1st to mid-8th centuries,[a] flourishing in particular during the 4th and 5th centuries, when Christianity was in the process of establishing itself as the [state church](/source/State_church_of_the_Roman_Empire) of the [Roman Empire](/source/Roman_Empire).

For many denominations of Christianity, the writings of the [Ante-Nicene Fathers](/source/Christianity_in_the_ante-Nicene_period#Early_orthodox_writings_–_Church_Fathers), [Nicene Fathers](/source/Christianity_in_the_4th_century#Church_Fathers) and [Post-Nicene Fathers](/source/Christianity_in_the_5th_century#Post-Nicene_Fathers) are included in [Sacred Tradition](/source/Sacred_tradition).[1] As such, in traditional [dogmatic theology](/source/Dogmatic_theology), authors considered Church Fathers are treated as authoritative for the establishment of doctrine.[2][3] The academic field of [patristics](/source/Patristics), the study of the Church Fathers, has extended the scope of the term, and there is no definitive list.[4][5][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] Some, such as [Origen](/source/Origen) and [Tertullian](/source/Tertullian), made major contributions to the development of later Christian theology, but certain elements of their teaching were later condemned.

## Apostolic Fathers

Main article: [Apostolic Fathers](/source/Apostolic_Fathers)

The Apostolic Fathers were [Christian theologians](/source/Christian_theology) who lived in the [1st](/source/Christianity_in_the_1st_century) and [2nd centuries](/source/Christianity_in_the_2nd_century) AD, who are believed to have personally known some of the [Twelve Apostles](/source/Twelve_Apostles), or to have been significantly influenced by them.[6] Their writings, though popular in [Early Christianity](/source/Early_Christianity), were ultimately not included in the [canon](/source/Biblical_canon) of the [New Testament](/source/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon) once it reached its final form. Many of the writings derive from the same time period and geographical location as other works of early Christian literature that did come to be part of the New Testament, and some of the writings found among the Apostolic Fathers' seem to have been just as highly regarded as some of the writings that became the New Testament.[7] The first three, [Clement](/source/Clement_of_Rome), [Ignatius](/source/Ignatius_of_Antioch), and [Polycarp](/source/Polycarp), are considered the chief ones.

### Clement of Rome

Main article: [Pope Clement I](/source/Pope_Clement_I)

Clement of Rome (also known as Pope Clement I) was a late 1st-century [bishop of Rome](/source/Pope) who, according to [Tertullian](/source/Tertullian), was ordained by [Saint Peter](/source/Saint_Peter). According to [Irenaeus](/source/Irenaeus), Clement was the fourth bishop of Rome after [Anacletus](/source/Pope_Anacletus). [Eusebius](/source/Eusebius) described him as the "co-laborer" of Paul and identified him with the Clement mentioned in [Philippians 4:3](https://www.blueletterbible.org/rsv/phl/4/3/t_conc_1107003).[8]

The [First Epistle of Clement](/source/First_Epistle_of_Clement) (c. 96)[9] is the earliest extant [epistle](/source/Epistle) from a Church Father.[10] In the epistle, Clement calls on the Christians of [Corinth](/source/Ancient_Corinth) to maintain harmony and order.[9] Copied and widely read in the [Early Church](/source/Early_Church),[11] First Clement had been considered by some as part of the [New Testament canon](/source/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon), e.g., listed as canonical in Canon 85 of the [Canons of the Apostles](/source/Canons_of_the_Apostles),[12] among other early canons of the New Testament, showing that it had canonical rank in at least some regions of early [Christendom](/source/Christendom). As late as the 14th century [Ibn Khaldun](/source/Ibn_Khaldun) mentions it as part of the New Testament.[13]

### Ignatius of Antioch

Main article: [Ignatius of Antioch](/source/Ignatius_of_Antioch)

Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus) (c. 35 – c. 110)[14] was the third [bishop of Antioch](/source/Patriarch_of_Antioch), and was said to be a student of the [Apostle John](/source/John_the_Apostle). En route to his martyrdom in Rome, Ignatius wrote a series of letters which have been preserved. Important topics addressed in these letters include [ecclesiology](/source/Ecclesiology), the [sacraments](/source/Sacrament), the role of [bishops](/source/Bishop), and the [incarnation of Christ](/source/Incarnation_of_Christ). He is the second after Clement to mention Paul's epistles.[9]

### Polycarp of Smyrna

Main article: [Polycarp](/source/Polycarp)

Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 69 – c. 155) was a Christian [bishop](/source/Bishop) of [Smyrna](/source/Smyrna) (now [İzmir](/source/%C4%B0zmir) in Turkey). It is recorded that he had been a disciple of "John". The options/possibilities for this John are [John, the son of Zebedee](/source/John_the_Apostle), traditionally viewed as the author of the [Gospel of John](/source/Gospel_of_John), or [John the Presbyter](/source/John_the_Presbyter).[15] Traditional advocates follow [Eusebius of Caesarea](/source/Eusebius_of_Caesarea) in insisting that the apostolic connection of Polycarp was with [John the Evangelist](/source/John_the_Evangelist) and that he was the author of the Gospel of John, and thus the Apostle John.

Polycarp tried and failed to persuade [Pope Anicetus](/source/Pope_Anicetus) to have the West [celebrate Passover on the 14th of Nisan](/source/Quartodecimanism), as in the Eastern calendar. Around AD 155, the Smyrnans of his town demanded Polycarp's execution as a Christian, and he died a [martyr](/source/Martyr). The story of his martyrdom describes how the fire built around him would not burn him, and that when he was stabbed to death, so much blood issued from his body that it quenched the flames around him.[9]

### Papias of Hierapolis

Main article: [Papias of Hierapolis](/source/Papias_of_Hierapolis)

Very little is known of [Papias](/source/Papias_of_Hierapolis) apart from what can be inferred from his own writings. He is described as "an ancient man who was a hearer of John and a companion of Polycarp" by Polycarp's disciple [Irenaeus](/source/Irenaeus) (c. 180). Eusebius adds that Papias was [Bishop of Hierapolis](/source/Bishop_of_Hierapolis) around the time of Ignatius. In this office, Papias was presumably succeeded by [Abercius of Hierapolis](/source/Abercius_of_Hierapolis). The name Papias was very common in the region, suggesting that he was probably a native of the area. The work of Papias is dated by most modern scholars to about AD 95–120.

Despite indications that the work of Papias was still extant in the [Late Middle Ages](/source/Late_Middle_Ages), the full text is now lost; however, extracts appear in a number of other writings, some of which cite a book number.

## Greek Fathers

The Three Holy Hierarchs of the Eastern Church: [Basil of Caesarea](/source/Basil_of_Caesarea) (left), [John Chrysostom](/source/John_Chrysostom) (center) and [Gregory of Nazianzus](/source/Gregory_of_Nazianzus) (right)

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Those who wrote in [Greek](/source/Greek_language) are called the Greek (Church) Fathers. In addition to the Apostolic Fathers, famous Greek Fathers include: [Justin Martyr](/source/Justin_Martyr), Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, [Athanasius of Alexandria](/source/Athanasius_of_Alexandria), the [Cappadocian Fathers](/source/Cappadocian_Fathers) ([Basil of Caesarea](/source/Basil_of_Caesarea), [Gregory Nazianzus](/source/Gregory_Nazianzus), [Gregory of Nyssa](/source/Gregory_of_Nyssa)), [Peter of Sebaste](/source/Peter_of_Sebaste), [Diodorus of Tarsus](/source/Diodorus_of_Tarsus), [Theodore of Mopsuestia](/source/Theodore_of_Mopsuestia), [John Chrysostom](/source/John_Chrysostom), [Cyril of Alexandria](/source/Cyril_of_Alexandria), [Maximus the Confessor](/source/Maximus_the_Confessor), and [John of Damascus](/source/John_of_Damascus).

In the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) tradition, Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296 or 298 – 373), Basil of Caesarea (c. 330 – 379), Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – c. 390), and John Chrysostom (347–407) are four Greek Church Fathers who are called the "Great Church Fathers", and in the [Eastern Orthodox Church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church), three of these (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom) are honored as the "[Three Holy Hierarchs](/source/Three_Holy_Hierarchs)".[16][17][18]

### Justin Martyr

Main articles: [Justin Martyr](/source/Justin_Martyr) and [First Apology of Justin Martyr](/source/First_Apology_of_Justin_Martyr)

Justin Martyr was an early [Christian apologist](/source/Christian_apologetics), and is regarded as the foremost interpreter of the theory of the [Logos](/source/Logos_(Christianity)) in the 2nd century.[19][20] He was [martyred](/source/Martyr), alongside some of his students, and is considered a [saint](/source/Saint) by the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church),[21] [Oriental Orthodox Churches](/source/Oriental_Orthodox_Churches), the [Eastern Orthodox Church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church),[22] and [Anglicanism](/source/Anglicanism).[23]

### Irenaeus of Lyons

Main article: [Irenaeus](/source/Irenaeus)

Irenaeus was [bishop of Lugdunum](/source/Bishop_of_Lugdunum) in [Gaul](/source/Gaul), which is now [Lyon](/source/Lyon)(s), France. His writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology, and he is recognized as a saint by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. He was a notable early [Christian apologist](/source/Christian_apologetics). He was also a disciple of Polycarp.

In his best-known book, *[Against Heresies](/source/On_the_Detection_and_Overthrow_of_the_So-Called_Gnosis)* (c. 180), he enumerated heresies and attacked them. Irenaeus wrote that the only way for Christians to retain unity was to humbly accept one doctrinal authority—episcopal councils.[9] Irenaeus proposed that the Gospels of [Matthew](/source/Gospel_of_Matthew), [Mark](/source/Gospel_of_Mark), [Luke](/source/Gospel_of_Luke) and [John](/source/Gospel_of_John) all [be accepted as canonical](/source/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon).

### Clement of Alexandria

Main article: [Clement of Alexandria](/source/Clement_of_Alexandria)

Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215) was the first member of the church of [Alexandria](/source/Alexandria) whose writings have survived, and was one of its most distinguished teachers. He saw wisdom in Greek philosophy and sought to harmonize it with Christian doctrine. Clement opposed [Gnosticism](/source/Gnosticism), and yet used some of its terminology; for instance, he valued *[gnosis](/source/Gnosis)* that with communion for all people could be held by common Christians. He developed a Christian [Platonism](/source/Platonism)[9] and has been described by scholars as "the founder of what was to become the great tradition of Christian philosophical theology."[24] Due to his teaching on salvation and divine judgement in passages such as *[Paedagogus](/source/Paedagogus)* 1.8 and *[Stromata](/source/Stromata)* 7.2, Clement is often regarded as one of the first [Christian universalists](/source/Christian_universalism).[25] Like Origen, he arose from the [Catechetical School of Alexandria](/source/Catechetical_School_of_Alexandria) and was well-versed in pagan and biblical literature.[9]

### Origen of Alexandria

Main article: [Origen](/source/Origen)

Origen, or Origen Adamantius (c. 185 – c. 254) was a scholar and theologian. According to tradition, he was an [Egyptian](/source/Ancient_Egypt)[26] who taught in Alexandria, reviving the Catechetical School where Clement had taught. The patriarch of Alexandria at first supported Origen but later expelled him for being ordained without the patriarch's permission. He relocated to [Caesarea Maritima](/source/Caesarea_Maritima) and died there[27] after being tortured during a persecution. He later became a controversial figure and some of his writings were condemned as heretical. Using his knowledge of Hebrew, he produced a corrected [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint).[9] He wrote commentaries on all the books of the Bible.[9] In *Peri Archon* (*First Principles*), he articulated a systematic philosophical exposition of Christian doctrine.[9] He at times employed an allegorical hermeneutic in his interpretation of the Old Testament, and was partly influenced by [Stoic](/source/Stoicism), [Neo-Pythagorean](/source/Neopythagoreanism), and [Platonist](/source/Platonism) thought.[9] Like [Plotinus](/source/Plotinus), he has been thought to believe that the soul passes through successive stages before incarnation as a human and after death, eventually reaching God.[9] However, more recent scholarship has concluded that Origen actually denied the preexistence of disembodied souls, and simply taught the preexistence of individuals' *logoi* in the mind of God.[28] Yet Origen did suggest, based on 1 Corinthians 15:22–28, that all creatures, possibly including even the fallen angels, will eventually be restored and reunited to God when evil is finally eradicated. For Origen, God was the [First Principle](/source/First_Principle), and [Christ](/source/Christ), the [Logos](/source/Logos)[9] through whom salvation is accomplished. Origen's various writings were interpreted by some to imply a hierarchical structure in the [Trinity](/source/Trinity), the temporality of matter, "the fabulous preexistence of souls", and "the monstrous restoration which follows from it." These alleged "Origenist errors" were declared [anathema](/source/Anathema) by a council in 553, three centuries after Origen had died in the peace of the church.[29][30]

### Athanasius of Alexandria

St. Athanasius, depicted with a gospel book, an iconographic symbol used mostly for priests and bishops as preachers of the gospel

Main article: [Athanasius of Alexandria](/source/Athanasius_of_Alexandria)

Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 293 – 373) was a theologian, [Pope of Alexandria](/source/Pope_of_Alexandria), and a noted [Egyptian](/source/Egypt) leader of the 4th century. He is remembered for his role in the conflict with [Arianism](/source/Arianism) and for his affirmation of the Trinity. At the [First Council of Nicaea](/source/First_Council_of_Nicaea) (325), Athanasius argued against the Arian doctrine that Christ is of a distinct substance from the Father.[9]

### Cappadocian Fathers

Main article: [Cappadocian Fathers](/source/Cappadocian_Fathers)

The Cappadocian Fathers are Basil the Great (330–379), who was bishop of [Caesarea](/source/Caesarea_Mazaca); Basil's younger brother Gregory of Nyssa (c. 332 – 395), who was bishop of [Nyssa](/source/Nyssa_(Cappadocia)); and a close friend, [Gregory of Nazianzus](/source/Gregory_of_Nazianzus) (329–389), who became [Patriarch of Constantinople](/source/Patriarch_of_Constantinople).[31] The Cappadocians promoted early Christian theology and are highly respected in both Western and Eastern churches as saints. They were a 4th-century [monastic](/source/Monasticism) family, led by [Macrina the Younger](/source/Macrina_the_Younger) (324–379) to provide a central place for her brothers to study and meditate, and also to provide a peaceful shelter for their mother. Abbess Macrina fostered the education and development of her three brothers Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and [Peter of Sebaste](/source/Peter_of_Sebaste) (c. 340 – 391) who became bishop of Sebaste.

These scholars set out to demonstrate that Christians could hold their own in conversations with learned Greek-speaking intellectuals. They argued that Christian faith, while it was against many of the ideas of [Plato](/source/Plato) and [Aristotle](/source/Aristotle) (and other Greek philosophers), was an almost scientific and distinctive movement with the healing of the soul of man and his union with God at its center. They made major contributions to the definition of the [Trinity](/source/Trinity) finalized at the [First Council of Constantinople](/source/First_Council_of_Constantinople) in 381 and the final version of the [Nicene Creed](/source/Nicene_Creed).

Subsequent to the First Council of Nicea, Arianism did not simply disappear. The semi-Arians taught that the Son is of like substance with the Father ([homoiousios](/source/Homoiousios)), as against the outright Arians who taught that the Son was unlike the Father ([heterousian](/source/Heterousian)). So the Son was held to be *like* the Father but not of the same essence as the Father. The Cappadocians worked to bring these semi-Arians back to the Orthodox cause. In their writings they made extensive use of the formula "three substances ([hypostases](/source/Hypostasis_(philosophy_and_religion))) in one essence ([homoousia](/source/Homoousia))", and thus explicitly acknowledged a distinction between the Father and the Son (a distinction that Nicea had been accused of blurring) but at the same time insisting on their essential unity.

### John Chrysostom

Main article: [John Chrysostom](/source/John_Chrysostom)

John Chrysostom (c. 347 – c. 407), [archbishop](/source/Archbishop) of [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople), is known for his eloquence in [preaching](/source/Sermon) and [public speaking](/source/Public_speaking); his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, recorded sermons and writings making him the most prolific of the eastern fathers, and his [ascetic](/source/Ascetic) sensibilities. After his death (or according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek epithet *chrysostomos*, meaning "golden mouthed", rendered in English as Chrysostom.[32][33]

Chrysostom is known within Christianity chiefly as a preacher and theologian, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church; he is the patron saint of orators in the Catholic Church. Chrysostom is also noted for eight of his sermons that played a considerable part in the history of [Christian antisemitism](/source/Christianity_and_antisemitism), diatribes against [Judaizers](/source/Judaizers) composed while a presbyter in Antioch, which were extensively exploited and misused by the [Nazis](/source/Nazis) in their ideological campaign against the Jews.[34][35] Patristic scholars such as Robert L Wilken point out that applying modern understandings of antisemitism back to Chrysostom is anachronistic due to his use of the Psogos. The Psogos, along with the encomium, were both rhetorical techniques used in the ancient world in a polemical context. With the encomium "one passes over a man's faults in order to praise him, and in a psogos, one passed over his virtues to defame him. Such principles are explicit in the handbooks of the rhetors, but an interesting passage from the church historian Socrates, writing in the mid-fifth century, shows that the rules for invective were simply taken for granted by men and women of the late Roman world."[36]

Chrysostom's sermons along with Basil the Great's have greatly influenced the Christian Church's understanding of economic and distributive justice for the poor, being cited extensively by the [Catechism of the Catholic Church](/source/Catechism_of_the_Catholic_Church)[37] as well as [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) in his own sermons critiquing modern-day forms of capitalism.[38][39]

### Theodore of Mopsuestia

Main article: [Theodore of Mopsuestia](/source/Theodore_of_Mopsuestia)

[Theodore of Mopsuestia](/source/Theodore_of_Mopsuestia) (c. 350 – 428) was a Christian theologian, and [Bishop of Mopsuestia](/source/Bishop_of_Mopsuestia) (as Theodore II) from 392 to 428 AD. He is also known as Theodore of Antioch, from the place of his birth and presbyterate. He is the best known representative of the middle [Antioch School](/source/School_of_Antioch) of [hermeneutics](/source/Hermeneutics).[40] He is known to be a prolific writer and exegete with strong emphases on the literal, historical and rational interpretation of Christian scriptures. Throughout his lifetime, he was hailed as one of the outstanding, prolific biblical theologians and staunch defender of Christ's humanity. More than a century after his death, he was condemned in person in the Chalcedonian Church at the [Second Council of Constantinople](/source/Second_Council_of_Constantinople).[41] However he continues to be recognised as a Greek Doctor in the Church of the East, which honours him with the title 'Theodore the Interpreter'.[42]

In 394, he attended a synod at Constantinople on a question which concerned the see of [Bostra](/source/Bostra) in the patriarchate of Antioch. While there, Theodore had the opportunity to preach before the emperor [Theodosius I](/source/Theodosius_I), who was then starting for his last journey to the West. The sermon made a deep impression, and Theodosius, who had sat at the feet of [Ambrose](/source/Ambrose) and [Gregory Nazianzus](/source/Gregory_Nazianzus), declared that he had never met with such a teacher (John of Antioch, ap. Facund. ii.2). [Theodosius II](/source/Theodosius_II) inherited his grandfather's respect for Theodore, and often wrote to him. Another glimpse of Theodore's episcopal life is supplied by a letter of Chrysostom to him from [Cucusus](/source/Cucusus) (AD 404–407) (Chrys. Ep. 212). The exiled patriarch "can never forget the love of Theodore, so genuine and warm, so sincere and guileless, a love maintained from early years, and manifested but now." Chrysostom (Ep. 204) thanks him profoundly for frequent though ineffectual efforts to obtain his release, and praises their friendship in such glowing terms that Theodore's enemies at the fifth Ecumenical Council made unsuccessful efforts to deny the identity of Chrysostom's correspondent with the bishop of Mopsuestia.[43]

### Cyril of Alexandria

Main article: [Cyril of Alexandria](/source/Cyril_of_Alexandria)

Cyril of Alexandria (c. 378 – 444) was the Bishop of Alexandria when the city was at its height of influence and power within the [Roman Empire](/source/Roman_Empire). Cyril wrote extensively and was a leading protagonist in the [Christological](/source/Christological) controversies of the late 4th and early 5th centuries. He was a central figure in the [First Council of Ephesus](/source/First_Council_of_Ephesus) in 431, which led to the deposition of [Nestorius](/source/Nestorius) as Archbishop of [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople). Cyril's reputation within the Christian world has resulted in his titles "Pillar of Faith" and "Seal of all the Fathers".

### Maximus the Confessor

Main article: [Maximus the Confessor](/source/Maximus_the_Confessor)

[Maximus the Confessor](/source/Maximus_the_Confessor) (also known as Maximus the Theologian and Maximus of Constantinople) (c. 580 – 662) was a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar. In his early life, he was a court secretary to the Byzantine Emperor [Heraclius](/source/Heraclius); however, he gave up this life in the political sphere to enter into the monastic life.[44]

After moving to [Carthage](/source/Carthage), Maximus studied several [Neo-Platonist](/source/Neoplatonism) writers and became a prominent author. When one of his friends began espousing the Christological position known as [Monothelitism](/source/Monothelitism), Maximus was drawn into the controversy, in which he supported the Chalcedonian position that Jesus had both a human and a divine will. Maximus is venerated in both Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity. His Christological positions eventually resulted in his torture and exile, soon after which he died; however, his theology was vindicated by the [Third Council of Constantinople](/source/Third_Council_of_Constantinople), and he was venerated as a saint soon after his death. His [feast day](/source/Calendar_of_saints) is celebrated twice during the year: on 21 January and on 13 August. His title of [Confessor](/source/Confessor_of_the_Faith) means that he suffered for the faith, but not to the point of death, and thus is distinguished from a martyr. His *Life of the Virgin* is thought to be the earliest complete biography of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

### John of Damascus

Main article: [John of Damascus](/source/John_of_Damascus)

John of Damascus (c. 676 – 749) was a Syrian Christian monk, priest, hymnographer and apologist. Born and raised in [Damascus](/source/Damascus), he died at his monastery, [Mar Saba](/source/Mar_Saba), near Jerusalem.

A polymath whose fields of interest and contribution included law, theology, philosophy, and music, he was given the by-name of Chrysorrhoas (Χρυσορρόας, literally "streaming with gold", i.e. "the golden speaker"). He wrote numerous works expounding the Christian faith, and composed hymns which are still used both liturgically in Eastern Christian practice throughout the world as well as in western Lutheranism at Easter.[45] He was particularly known for his defense of [icons](/source/Icon).[46]

The Catholic Church regards him as a [Doctor of the Church](/source/Doctor_of_the_Church), often referred to as the Doctor of the Assumption because of his writings on the Assumption of Mary.

## Latin Fathers

The four Great Latin  Fathers. From the left: [Augustine of Hippo](/source/Augustine_of_Hippo), [Pope Gregory I](/source/Pope_Gregory_I), [Jerome](/source/Jerome), and [Ambrose](/source/Ambrose).

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Those fathers who wrote in [Latin](/source/Latin) are called the Latin (Church) Fathers. In the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) tradition, [Ambrose](/source/Ambrose) (AD 340–397), [Jerome](/source/Jerome) (347–420), [Augustine of Hippo](/source/Augustine_of_Hippo) (354–430), and [Pope Gregory I](/source/Pope_Gregory_I) (540–604) are four Latin Church Fathers who are called the "Great Church Fathers".[16][17]

### Tertullian

Main article: [Tertullian](/source/Tertullian)

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (c. 155 – c. 222), who was converted to Christianity before 197, was a prolific writer of apologetic, theological, controversial and ascetic works.[47] He was born in Carthage, the son of a Roman centurion.

Tertullian denounced Christian doctrines he considered heretical, such as allowing widows to remarry and permitting Christians to flee from persecution, but later in life adopted [Montanism](/source/Montanism), regarded as heretical by the mainstream Church, which prevented his canonization. He wrote three books in Greek and was the first great writer of Latin Christianity, thus sometimes known as the "Father of the Latin Church".[48] He was evidently a lawyer in Rome.[49] He is said to have introduced the Latin term *trinitas* with regard to the Divine ([Trinity](/source/Trinity)) to the Christian vocabulary[50] (but [Theophilus of Antioch](/source/Theophilus_of_Antioch) had already written of "the Trinity, of God, and His Word, and His Wisdom", which is similar but not identical to the Trinitarian wording),[51] and also probably the formula "three Persons, one Substance" as the Latin "*tres [Personae](/source/Persona), [una Substantia](/source/Consubstantial)*" (itself from the [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek) "τρεῖς ὑποστάσεις, ὁμοούσιος; *treís [hypostasis](/source/Hypostasis_(philosophy_and_religion)), [Homoousios](/source/Ousios)*"), and also the terms *vetus testamentum* ([Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament)) and *novum testamentum* ([New Testament](/source/New_Testament)).

In his *[Apologeticus](/source/Apologeticus)*, he was the first Latin author who qualified Christianity as the *[vera religio](/source/Religious_exclusivism)*, and systematically relegated the classical Roman imperial religion and other accepted cults to the position of mere "superstitions".

He used the early church's symbol for fish—the Greek word for "fish" being [ΙΧΘΥΣ](/source/Ichthys), which is an acronym for Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ (Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour)—to explain the meaning of baptism, since fish are born in water. He wrote that human beings are like little fish.

### Cyprian of Carthage

Main article: [Cyprian of Carthage](/source/Cyprian_of_Carthage)

Cyprian (c. 200 – 258) was bishop of Carthage and an important early Christian writer.[52] He was born in [North Africa](/source/North_Africa_during_the_Classical_Period), probably at the beginning of the 3rd century, perhaps at Carthage, where he received an excellent classical ([pagan](/source/Paganism)) education. After converting to Christianity, he became a bishop and eventually died a martyr at Carthage. He emphasized the necessity of the unity of Christians with their bishops, and also the authority of the Roman See, which he claimed was the source of "priestly unity"'.

### Hilary of Poitiers

Main article: [Hilary of Poitiers](/source/Hilary_of_Poitiers)

[Hilary of Poitiers](/source/Hilary_of_Poitiers) (c. 300 – c. 368) was Bishop of Poitiers and is a Doctor of the Church. He was sometimes referred to as the "Hammer of the Arians" ([Latin](/source/Latin_language): *Malleus Arianorum*) and the "Athanasius of the West". His name comes from the Graeco-Latin word for happy or cheerful. His optional memorial in the [General Roman Calendar](/source/General_Roman_Calendar) is 13 January. In the past, when this date was occupied by the Octave Day of the Epiphany, his feast day was moved to 14 January.

### Ambrose of Milan

Main article: [Ambrose of Milan](/source/Ambrose_of_Milan)

[Ambrose](/source/Ambrose)[b] was an [archbishop of Milan](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Milan) who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was a governor before becoming bishop. He is counted as one of the four original doctors of the Church. He offered a new perspective on the [theory of atonement](/source/Atonement_(Christian)).[*[which?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_weasel_words)*]

### Pope Damasus I

[Pope Damasus I](/source/Pope_Damasus_I) (305–384) was active in defending the Catholic Church against the threat of schisms. In two Roman synods (368 and 369) he condemned the heresies of Apollinarianism and Macedonianism, and sent legates (papal representatives) to the First Council of Constantinople that was convoked in 381 to address these heresies. He also wrote in defense of the Roman See's authority, and inaugurated use of Latin in the [Mass](/source/Catholic_Mass), instead of the Koine Greek that was still being used throughout the Church in the west in the liturgy.

### Jerome of Stridonium

Main article: [Jerome](/source/Jerome)

Print of Jerome in his study. Preserved in the [Ghent University Library](/source/Ghent_University_Library).[53]

[Jerome](/source/Jerome) (c. 347 – 420) is best known as the translator of the [Bible](/source/Bible) from Greek and [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language) into Latin. He also was a Christian apologist. Jerome's edition of the Bible, the *[Vulgate](/source/Vulgate)*, is still an important text of [Catholicism](/source/Catholicism). He is recognised by the Catholic Church as a Doctor of the Church.

### Augustine of Hippo

Main article: [Augustine of Hippo](/source/Augustine_of_Hippo)

[Augustine](/source/Augustine_of_Hippo) (354–430), Bishop of Hippo, was a philosopher and theologian. Augustine, a Latin Father and Doctor of the Church, is one of the most important figures in the development of [Western Christianity](/source/Western_Christianity). In his early life, Augustine read widely in Greco-Roman rhetoric and philosophy, including the works of Platonists such as [Plotinus](/source/Plotinus).[54] He framed the concepts of [original sin](/source/Original_sin) and [just war](/source/Just_war) as they are understood in the West. When Rome fell and the faith of many Christians was shaken, Augustine wrote *[The City of God](/source/The_City_of_God_(book))*, in which he defended Christianity from pagan critics and developed the concept of the Church as a spiritual [City of God](/source/New_Jerusalem), distinct from the material City of Man.[9] Augustine's work defined the start of the [medieval](/source/Medieval) [worldview](/source/Worldview), an outlook that would later be firmly established by [Pope Gregory the Great](/source/Pope_Gregory_I).[9]

Augustine was born in present-day [Algeria](/source/Algeria) to a Christian mother, [Monica of Hippo](/source/Monica_of_Hippo). He was educated in North Africa and resisted his mother's pleas to become Christian. He took a concubine and became a [Manichean](/source/Manichaeism). He later converted to Christianity, became a bishop, and opposed heresies, such as [Pelagianism](/source/Pelagianism). His many works—including *[The Confessions](/source/Confessions_(St._Augustine))*, which is often called the first Western [autobiography](/source/Autobiography)—have been read continuously since his lifetime. The Catholic religious order, the [Order of Saint Augustine](/source/Order_of_Saint_Augustine), adopted his name and way of life. Augustine is also the patron saint of many institutions and a number have been named after him.

### Pope Leo the Great

[Pope Leo I](/source/Pope_Leo_I) (c. 400 – 461) was pope from 29 September 440 until his death. He was active in defending the Latin Church against the threat of [schism](/source/Schism_(religion)) associated with [Monophysitism](/source/Monophysitism), [Miaphysitism](/source/Miaphysitism) and [Dyophysitism](/source/Dyophysitism), most remembered theologically for issuing the [Tome of Leo](/source/Leo's_Tome), a document which was a major foundation to the debates of the [Council of Chalcedon](/source/Council_of_Chalcedon), the fourth [ecumenical council](/source/Ecumenical_council).[55][56][57][58]

### Pope Gregory the Great

Main article: [Gregory the Great](/source/Gregory_the_Great)

Gregory I the Great (c. 540 – 604) was pope from 3 September 590 until his death. He is also known as Gregorius Dialogus (*Gregory the Dialogist*) in Eastern Orthodoxy because of the *[Dialogues](/source/Pope_Gregory_I#Writings)* he wrote. He was the first of the popes from a monastic background. Gregory is a Doctor of the Church and one of the four great Latin Fathers of the Church (the others being Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome). Of all popes, Gregory I had the most influence on the [early medieval](/source/Early_medieval) church.[59]

### Isidore of Seville

Main article: [Isidore of Seville](/source/Isidore_of_Seville)

[Isidore of Seville](/source/Isidore_of_Seville) (c. 560 – 636) was Archbishop of [Seville](/source/Seville) for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "le dernier savant du monde ancien" ("the last scholar of the ancient world"). Indeed, all the later medieval history-writing of Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula, comprising modern Spain and Portugal) was based on his histories.

At a time of disintegration of classical culture and aristocratic violence and illiteracy, he was involved in the conversion of the royal [Visigothic](/source/Visigoth) Arians to Nicene Christianity, both assisting his brother Leander of Seville and continuing after his brother's death. He was influential in the inner circle of Sisebut, Visigothic king of Hispania. Like Leander, he played a prominent role in the Councils of Toledo and Seville. The Visigothic legislation which resulted from these councils is regarded by modern historians as exercising an important influence on the beginnings of representative government.

## Syriac Fathers

A few Church Fathers wrote in [Syriac](/source/Syriac_language); many of their works were also widely translated into Latin and Greek. These include [Aphrahat](/source/Aphrahat), [Jacob of Nisibis](/source/Jacob_of_Nisibis), [Ephrem](/source/Ephrem_the_Syrian), [Narsai](/source/Narsai), [Jacob of Serug](/source/Jacob_of_Serugh), [Henana](/source/Henana_of_Adiabene), [Aba](/source/Aba_I), [Abraham of Izla](/source/Abraham_the_Great_of_Kashkar), [Babai](/source/Babai_the_Great), [Hormizd](/source/Rabban_Hormizd) and [Isaac of Nineveh](/source/Isaac_of_Nineveh).

### Aphrahat

Main article: [Aphrahat](/source/Aphrahat)

[Aphrahat](/source/Aphrahat) (c. 270 – c. 345 was a [Syriac-Christian](/source/Syriac_Christianity) author of the 3rd century from the [Adiabene](/source/Adiabene) region of Northern [Mesopotamia](/source/Mesopotamia), which was within the [Persian Empire](/source/Persia), who composed a series of twenty-three expositions or homilies on points of Christian doctrine and practice. He was born in Persia around 270, but all his known works, the *Demonstrations*, come from later on in his life. He was an [ascetic](/source/Asceticism) and [celibate](/source/Celibacy), and was almost definitely a [son of the covenant](/source/Members_of_the_covenant) (an early Syriac form of communal [monasticism](/source/Monasticism)). He may have been a [bishop](/source/Bishop), and later Syriac tradition places him at the head of [Mar Matti](/source/Mar_Matti) monastery near [Mosul](/source/Mosul), in what is now northern [Iraq](/source/Iraq). He was a near contemporary to the slightly younger [Ephrem the Syrian](/source/Ephrem_the_Syrian), but the latter lived within the sphere of the [Roman Empire](/source/Roman_Empire). Called the *Persian Sage* ([Syriac](/source/Syriac_language): ܚܟܝܡܐ ܦܪܣܝܐ, ḥakkîmâ p̄ārsāyā), Aphrahat witnesses to the concerns of the early church beyond the eastern boundaries of the Roman Empire.

### Ephrem the Syrian

Main article: [Ephrem the Syrian](/source/Ephrem_the_Syrian)

Ephrem the Syrian (11th century mosaic in [Nea Moni](/source/Nea_Moni_of_Chios)).

[Ephrem the Syrian](/source/Ephrem_the_Syrian) (c. 306 – 373) was a [Syriac](/source/Assyrian_people) deacon and a prolific Syriac-language [hymnographer](/source/Hymn) and [theologian](/source/Theology) of the 4th century from the [region of Syria](/source/Syria_(region)).[60][61][62][63] His works are hailed by [Christians](/source/Christianity) throughout the world, and many denominations venerate him as a [saint](/source/Saint). He has been declared a [Doctor of the Church](/source/Doctor_of_the_Church) in the Catholic Church. He is especially beloved in the [Syriac Orthodox Church](/source/Syriac_Orthodox_Church) and in the [Church of the East](/source/Church_of_the_East).

Ephrem wrote a wide variety of hymns, [poems](/source/Poem), and [sermons](/source/Sermon) in verse, as well as [prose](/source/Prose) [biblical exegesis](/source/Biblical_exegesis). These were works of practical theology for the edification of the [church](/source/Christian_Church) in troubled times. So popular were his works, that, for centuries after his death, Christian authors wrote hundreds of [pseudepigraphal](/source/Pseudepigraphy) works in his name. He has been called the most significant of all of the fathers of the Syriac-speaking church tradition.[64]

### Isaac of Antioch

Main article: [Isaac of Antioch](/source/Isaac_of_Antioch)

[Isaac of Antioch](/source/Isaac_of_Antioch) (451–452), one of the stars of [Syriac literature](/source/Syriac_literature), is the reputed author of a large number of metrical homilies (The fullest list, by [Gustav Bickell](/source/Gustav_Bickell), contains 191 which are extant in MSS), many of which are distinguished by an originality and acumen rare among Syriac writers.

### Isaac of Nineveh

Main article: [Isaac of Nineveh](/source/Isaac_of_Nineveh)

[Isaac of Nineveh](/source/Isaac_the_Syrian) was a 7th-century [Syriac](/source/Syriac_Christianity) [bishop](/source/Bishop) and [theologian](/source/Theologian) best remembered for his written work. He is also regarded as a [saint](/source/Saint) in the [Church of the East](/source/Church_of_the_East), the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church), the [Eastern Orthodox Church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) and among the [Oriental Orthodox](/source/Oriental_Orthodox) Churches, making him the last saint chronologically to be recognised by every apostolic Church. His [feast day](/source/Feast_day) falls on January 28 and in the Syriac Orthodox calendar on March 14. Isaac is remembered for his spiritual homilies on the inner life, which have a human breadth and theological depth that transcends the [Nestorian Christianity](/source/Nestorian_Christianity) of the Church to which he belonged. They survive in [Syriac](/source/Syriac_language) manuscripts and in Greek and Arabic translations.

## Desert Fathers

Main article: [Desert Fathers](/source/Desert_Fathers)

See also: [Desert Mothers](/source/Desert_Mothers)

Coptic icon depicting [Anthony the Great](/source/Anthony_the_Great) (left) and [Paul of Thebes](/source/Paul_of_Thebes) (right)

The Desert Fathers were early monastics living in the Egyptian desert. Although they did not write as much as other Church Fathers, their influence was also great, and they are credited with forming the basis for the practice of [monasticism](/source/Christian_monasticism). Among them are [Paul of Thebes](/source/Paul_of_Thebes), [Anthony the Great](/source/Anthony_the_Great) and [Pachomius](/source/Pachomius). Many of their sayings are collected in the *[Apophthegmata Patrum](/source/Apophthegmata_Patrum)* ("Sayings of the Desert Fathers").[65]

## Modern positions

Main article: [Consensus Patrum](/source/Consensus_Patrum)

### Catholicism

In the Catholic Church, the patristic era is believed to have passed. On account of their proximity to ancient sources and particular way of doing theology, [John of Damascus](/source/John_of_Damascus) and [Bernard of Clairvaux](/source/Bernard_of_Clairvaux) are among those considered to be the last of the Church Fathers. However, the Church does grant the similar title of [Doctor of the Church](/source/Doctor_of_the_Church) to notable post-patristic saints who have made significant contributions to Catholic theology or doctrine.[66][67]

### Eastern Orthodoxy

The Eastern Orthodox Church does not consider the age of Church Fathers to be over and includes later influential writers up to the present day. The Orthodox view is that men do not have to agree on every detail, much less be infallible, to be considered Church Fathers. Rather, Orthodox doctrine is determined by the consensus of the Holy Fathers: those points on which they do agree. This consensus guides the church in questions of [dogma](/source/Dogma), the correct [interpretation of scripture](/source/Exegesis), and to distinguish the authentic [sacred tradition](/source/Sacred_tradition) of the Church from false teachings.[68]

### Protestantism

The original [Lutheran](/source/Lutheran) *[Augsburg Confession](/source/Augsburg_Confession)* of 1530 and the later *[Formula of Concord](/source/Formula_of_Concord)* of 1576–1584, both begin with the mention of the doctrine professed by the Fathers of the First Council of Nicaea.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Though much [Protestant](/source/Protestantism) theology is based on *[sola scriptura](/source/Sola_scriptura)* (the principle that the Bible itself is the ultimate authority in doctrinal matters), the first Protestant reformers, like the Catholic and Orthodox churches, used the theological interpretations of scripture set forth by the early Church Fathers.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

[John Calvin](/source/John_Calvin)'s *French Confession of Faith* of 1559 states, "And we confess that which has been established by the ancient councils, and we detest all sects and heresies which were rejected by the holy doctors, such as St. Hilary, St. Athanasius, St. Ambrose and St. Cyril."[69]

The *[Scots Confession](/source/Scots_Confession)* of 1560 deals with general councils in its 20th chapter. The [Thirty-nine Articles](/source/Thirty-nine_Articles) of the [Church of England](/source/Church_of_England), both the original of 1562–1571 and the American version of 1801, explicitly accept the Nicene Creed in Article VII. Even when a particular Protestant confessional formula does not mention the Nicene Council or its creed, its doctrine is nonetheless always asserted, as, for example, in the [Presbyterian](/source/Presbyterian) *[Westminster Confession](/source/Westminster_Confession)* of 1647. Many Protestant [seminaries](/source/Seminary) provide courses on [patristics](/source/Patristics) as part of their curriculum, and many historic Protestant churches emphasize the importance of tradition and of the fathers in scriptural interpretation. Such an emphasis is even more pronounced in certain streams of Protestant thought, such as [Paleo-Orthodoxy](/source/Paleo-orthodoxy).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Patristics

Main article: [Patristics](/source/Patristics)

The study of the Church Fathers is known as *patristics*.

Works of fathers in [early Christianity](/source/Early_Christianity), prior to [Nicene Christianity](/source/Nicene_Christianity), were translated into English in a 19th-century collection *[Ante-Nicene Fathers](/source/Ante-Nicene_Fathers_(book))*. Those of the First Council of Nicaea and continuing through the [Second Council of Nicea](/source/Second_Council_of_Nicea) (787) are collected in *[Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers](/source/Nicene_and_Post-Nicene_Fathers).*

## See also

- [Christian apologetics](/source/Christian_apologetics#Apostolic_and_post-apostolic_period)

- [Confessor of the Faith](/source/Confessor_of_the_Faith)

- [Great Church](/source/Great_Church)

- [Historiography of early Christianity](/source/Historiography_of_early_Christianity)

- [List of Church Fathers](/source/List_of_Church_Fathers)

- [List of Christian women of the patristic age](/source/List_of_Christian_women_of_the_patristic_age)

- [List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles](/source/List_of_Eastern_Orthodox_saint_titles)

- [Patron Saints of Europe](/source/Patron_saints_of_places#Continents)

- [Sacred tradition](/source/Sacred_tradition)

- *[Clavis Patrum Graecorum](/source/Clavis_Patrum_Graecorum)*

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Byzantine Iconoclasm](/source/Byzantine_Iconoclasm) began in AD 726, [John of Damascus](/source/John_of_Damascus) died in AD 749; the last of the [seven ecumenical councils](/source/First_seven_ecumenical_councils) took place in AD 787.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-54)** Known in Latin and [Low Franconian](/source/Low_Franconian) as *Ambrosius*, in [Italian](/source/Italian_language) as *Ambrogio* and in [Lombard](/source/Lombard_language) as *Ambroeus*.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Plekon2003_2-0)** Plekon, Michael (2003). *Tradition Alive: On the Church and the Christian Life in Our Time : Readings from the Eastern Church*. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 70. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7425-3163-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7425-3163-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Brown, Stephen F. (2011). "Church Fathers". *Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy*. Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy. pp. 209–216. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-1-4020-9729-4_125](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-1-4020-9729-4_125). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4020-9728-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4020-9728-7). These teachers, both in the East and the West, manifested the strength of Christian truth and the power of Christian life in their writings that marked this period as the Golden Age of the Fathers. The end of the Patristic era is generally marked in the West with the death of St. Isidore of Seville (d. c. 636) and in the East with the death of St. John of Damascus (d. c. 750). The writings of the Fathers have been given great respect both in their role of establishing the Christian tradition of beliefs and patterns of living and also as works that provide a deeper grasp of the meaning of Christian truths or provoke questions that lead Christians to a deeper understanding of their beliefs.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Preus1984_4-0)** Preus, J.A.O. (1984). "The Use of the Church Fathers in the Formula of Concord". *Concordia Theological Quarterly*. **48** (2–3): 97—112.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Kelly, John N. D. ["Patristic literature"](https://www.britannica.com/topic/patristic-literature). *Encyclopedia Britannica*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191203010455/https://www.britannica.com/topic/patristic-literature) from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Rasmussen, Adam (10 June 2011). ["Who are the Fathers of the Church? A chronological list"](http://chrysologus.blogspot.com/2011/06/who-are-fathers-of-church-chronological.html). *Catholic Theology*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230715012112/http://chrysologus.blogspot.com/2011/06/who-are-fathers-of-church-chronological.html) from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CathEn_7-0)** [Peterson, John Bertram](/source/John_Bertram_Peterson) (1913). ["The Apostolic Fathers"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/The_Apostolic_Fathers). In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Wolfson, Harry Austryn (1956). [*The Philosophy of the Church Fathers: Faith, Trinity, Incarnation*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7U9AAAAIAAJ&dq=Church+Fathers&pg=PA44). Harvard University Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pope St. Clement I"](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04012c.htm). *www.newadvent.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171226045623/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04012c.htm) from the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2024-07-18.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CC_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CC_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CC_10-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-CC_10-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-CC_10-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-CC_10-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-CC_10-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-CC_10-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-CC_10-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-CC_10-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-CC_10-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-CC_10-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-CC_10-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-CC_10-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-CC_10-14) [***p***](#cite_ref-CC_10-15) [Durant, Will](/source/Will_Durant) (1972). *Caesar and Christ*. New York: Simon and Schuster.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Di Berardino, Angelo (2014). *[Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Ancient_Christianity)*. IVP Academic. p. 1:549.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Elliott, John. *1 Peter*. Doubleday, Toronto, 2000. Page 138.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["The Ecclesiastical Canons of the Same Holy Apostles"](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf07.ix.ix.vi.html). *Christian Classics Ethereal Library*. Ante-Nicene Fathers. [Grand Rapids, Michigan](/source/Grand_Rapids%2C_Michigan), U.S.A.: Eerdmans Pub Co. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190515000952/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf07.ix.ix.vi.html) from the original on 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2020-10-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Ibn Khaldun (1958) [1377]. ["Chapter 3.31. Remarks on the words "Pope" and "Patriarch" in the Christian religion and on the word "Kohen" used by the Jews"](http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ik/Muqaddimah/Chapter3/Ch_3_31.htm). *Muqaddimah*. Translated by Rosenthal, Franz. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230725064443/http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ik/Muqaddimah/Chapter3/Ch_3_31.htm) from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2020-10-13..

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** See "Ignatius" in *The Westminster Dictionary of Church History*, ed. Jerald Brauer (Philadelphia:Westminster, 1971) and also David Hugh Farmer, "Ignatius of Antioch" in *The Oxford Dictionary of the Saints* (New York:Oxford University Press, 1987).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Polycarp of Smyrna; Ignatius of Antioch; Clement of Rome (1912). *The Apostolic Fathers*. Loeb classical library. Translated by Lake, Kirsopp. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. p. 280. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2027/hvd.32044016963696](https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fhvd.32044016963696). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780674990289](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780674990289). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_17-1) Hall, Christopher A. (August 17, 1998). *Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers*. InterVarsity Press. p. 55. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0830815007](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0830815007).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_18-1) MacDonald, Paul S. (March 2003). *History of the Concept of Mind*. Ashgate. p. 124. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0754613658](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0754613658).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Parry, David (1999). *The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity*. Oxford: Blackwell. pp. 491–492. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-631-18966-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-631-18966-1).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Rokeah (2002) *Justin Martyr and the Jews* p.22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Philippe Bobichon, *Dialogue with Trypho*, critical edition and French translation, [vol. 1](https://www.academia.edu/7280008/JUSTIN_MARTYR_Dialogue_avec_Tryphon_Dialogue_with_Trypho_%C3%A9dition_critique_VOLUME_I_Introduction_Texte_grec_Traduction_Coll_Paradosis_%C3%A9ditions_universitaires_de_Fribourg_Suisse_no_47_1_2003_563_pages) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210402145537/https://www.academia.edu/7280008/JUSTIN_MARTYR_Dialogue_avec_Tryphon_Dialogue_with_Trypho_%C3%A9dition_critique_VOLUME_I_Introduction_Texte_grec_Traduction_Coll_Paradosis_%C3%A9ditions_universitaires_de_Fribourg_Suisse_no_47_1_2003_563_pages) 2021-04-02 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine); [vol. 2](https://www.academia.edu/7280015/JUSTIN_MARTYR_Dialogue_avec_Tryphon_Dialogue_with_Trypho_%C3%A9dition_critique_VOLUME_II_Commentaires_Appendices_Indices_Collection_Paradosis_%C3%A9ditions_universitaires_de_Fribourg_Suisse_n_47_2_2003_562_pages) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210411074702/https://www.academia.edu/7280015/JUSTIN_MARTYR_Dialogue_avec_Tryphon_Dialogue_with_Trypho_%C3%A9dition_critique_VOLUME_II_Commentaires_Appendices_Indices_Collection_Paradosis_%C3%A9ditions_universitaires_de_Fribourg_Suisse_n_47_2_2003_562_pages) 2021-04-11 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Catholic_22-0)** Lebreton, Jules (1910). "[St. Justin Martyr](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/St._Justin_Martyr)". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Justin the Philosopher & Martyr and his Companions"](http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints/73). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100620155230/http://goarch.org/chapel/saints/73) from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2011-04-02.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** [Bray](/source/Gerald_Bray). *God Has Spoken*. p. 202.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** [Ramelli](/source/Ilaria_Ramelli). *The Christian Doctrine of Apokatastasis*. pp. 119–136.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** [Sarton, George](/source/George_Sarton) (1936). "The Unity and Diversity of the Mediterranean World". *Osiris*. **2**: 430. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/368462](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F368462). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [143379839](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:143379839).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["About Caesarea"](https://www.caesarea.landscape.cornell.edu/about.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220622181011/http://www.caesarea.landscape.cornell.edu/about.html) from the original on 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2008-02-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** [Ramelli](/source/Ilaria_Ramelli) (2019). *A Larger Hope, Volume 1*. Cascade Books. pp. 226–227.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** [*The Anathemas Against Origen*](http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xii.ix.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230726023146/https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xii.ix.html) 2023-07-26 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), by the [Fifth Ecumenical Council](/source/Fifth_Ecumenical_Council) (Schaff, Philip, "The Seven Ecumenical Councils", *Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers*, Series 2, Vol. 14. Edinburgh: T&T Clark)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** [*The Anathematisms of the Emperor Justinian Against Origen*](http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xii.x.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131021204533/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xii.x.html) 2013-10-21 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (Schaff, *op. cit.*)

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** [Pope Vigilius](/source/Pope_Vigilius), *Constitution of Pope Vigilius*, 553

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NewAdvent_34-0)** Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). ["St. John Chrysostom"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/St._John_Chrysostom). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** Walter Laqueur, *The Changing Face of Antisemitism: From Ancient Times To The Present Day*, (Oxford University Press: 2006), p.48. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-530429-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-530429-2). 48

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** Yohanan (Hans) Lewy (1997). "John Chrysostom". In Roth, Cecil (ed.). *[Encyclopaedia Judaica](/source/Encyclopaedia_Judaica)* (CD-ROM version 1.0 ed.). Keter Publishing House. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [965-07-0665-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/965-07-0665-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** John Chrysostom and the Jews: Rhetoric and Reality in the Late 4th Century, by Robert L. Wilken (University of California Press: Berkeley, 1983), p. 112.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** ["Catechism of the Catholic Church – The seventh commandment"](https://web.archive.org/web/20020910105138/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a7.htm). *www.vatican.va*. Archived from [the original](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a7.htm) on 2002-09-10.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** ["What St. John Chrysostom Can Teach Us About Social Justice"](https://sojo.net/articles/what-st-john-chrysostom-can-teach-us-about-social-justice). 6 September 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230725064453/https://sojo.net/articles/what-st-john-chrysostom-can-teach-us-about-social-justice) from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** ["Theodore Of Mopsuestia | Syrian theologian | Britannica"](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodore-of-Mopsuestia). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230312065648/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodore-of-Mopsuestia) from the original on 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2023-03-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMcLeod2009_42-0)** [McLeod 2009](#CITEREFMcLeod2009).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** ["ഗ്രീക്ക് സഭാപിതാക്കന്മാരുടെ ഓർമ്മ"](https://www.syromalabarliturgy.org/assets/feasts/pdfs/1643950891.pdf) (PDF). *syromalabarliturgy.org* (in Malayalam).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** McLeod, Frederick (2009). Harrison, Carol (ed.). [*Theodore of Mopsuestia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BpJ8AgAAQBAJ). The Early Church Fathers. United Kingdom: Routledge. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781134079278](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781134079278).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** "[St. Maximus the Confessor](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Maximus-the-Confessor)". *Encyclopedia Britannica*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** *Lutheran Service Book* (Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 2006), pp. 478, 487.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Aquilinap222_47-0)** Aquilina, Mike (1999). [*The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Hb-S41iWo7oC&pg=PT235) (illustrated ed.). Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. p. 222. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-87-973689-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-87-973689-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Oxford:Tertullian_48-0)** Cross, F. L., ed. (2005). "Tertullian". *The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church*. New York: Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/acref/9780192802903.001.0001](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facref%2F9780192802903.001.0001). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780192802903](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780192802903).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-49)** [Vincent of Lerins in 434 AD](http://www.tertullian.org/readfirst.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230603170528/https://www.tertullian.org/readfirst.htm) 2023-06-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *Commonitorium*, 17, describes Tertullian as 'first of us among the Latins' (Quasten IV, p.549)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-50)** Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). ["Tertullian"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Tertullian). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-51)** *A History of Christian Thought*, [Paul Tillich](/source/Paul_Tillich), Touchstone Books, 1972. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-671-21426-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-671-21426-8) (p. 43)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-52)** ["To Autolycus, Book 2, chapter XV"](http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/theophilus-book2.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230208074847/http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/theophilus-book2.html) from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2008-03-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-53)** Frend, William Hugh Clifford et al.: [St. Cyprian](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Cyprian-Christian-bishop). *Encyclopedia Britannica*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-55)** ["Hiëronymus in zijn studeervertrek"](https://lib.ugent.be/viewer/archive.ugent.be:6B669DBE-F681-11E9-9639-C36B765DA7FD#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-1155,-150,4010,2986). *lib.ugent.be*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231006203312/https://lib.ugent.be/viewer/archive.ugent.be:6B669DBE-F681-11E9-9639-C36B765DA7FD#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-1155,-150,4010,2986) from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2020-10-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-56)** Cross, F. L., ed. *The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church*. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005, article *Platonism*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Neil_2009_57-0)** Neil, B. (2009). [*Leo the Great*](https://books.google.com/books?id=KmiPAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA49). The Early Church Fathers. Taylor & Francis. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-135-28408-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-135-28408-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-first_seven_58-0)** Davis, [SJ](/source/Society_of_Jesus), Leo Donald (1990). [*The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325–787): Their History and Theology (Theology and Life Series 21)*](https://archive.org/details/firstsevenec_davi_1990_000_6702418/page/342). Collegeville, MN: Michael Glazier/Liturgical Press. pp. [342](https://archive.org/details/firstsevenec_davi_1990_000_6702418/page/342). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8146-5616-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8146-5616-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-59)** ["CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pope St. Leo I (The Great)"](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09154b.htm). *Newadvent.org*. Retrieved 24 January 2022.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-60)** ["Philip Schaff: NPNF2-14. The Seven Ecumenical Councils - Christian Classics Ethereal Library"](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xi.vii.html). *Ccel.org*. Retrieved 24 January 2022.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-61)** [Pope St. Gregory I](http://historymedren.about.com/library/who/blwwgreg1.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070227024809/http://historymedren.about.com/library/who/blwwgreg1.htm) 2007-02-27 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) at [about.com](/source/About.com)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Karim2004_62-0)** Karim, Cyril Aphrem (December 2004). [*Symbols of the cross in the writings of the early Syriac Fathers*](https://books.google.com/books?id=nUcx14_IlE4C&pg=PA3). Gorgias Press LLC. p. 3. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-59333-230-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-59333-230-3). Retrieved 8 June 2011.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lipiński2000_63-0)** Lipiński, Edward (2000). [*The Aramaeans: their ancient history, culture, religion*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rrMKKtiBBI4C&pg=PA11). Peeters Publishers. p. 11. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-429-0859-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-429-0859-8). Retrieved 8 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Possekel1999_64-0)** Possekel, Ute (1999). [*Evidence of Greek philosophical concepts in the writings of Ephrem the Syrian*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ3gGQuJUS4C&pg=PA1). Peeters Publishers. p. 1. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-429-0759-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-429-0759-1). Retrieved 8 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CameronKuhrt1993_65-0)** Cameron, Averil; Kuhrt, Amélie (1993). [*Images of women in antiquity*](https://books.google.com/books?id=96g-d90oDpwC&pg=PA288). Psychology Press. p. 288. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-415-09095-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-415-09095-7). Retrieved 8 June 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-66)** Parry, Ken, ed. (1999). [*The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity*](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781405166584). Malden: Blackwell Publishing. p. 180. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/9781405166584](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F9781405166584). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781405166584](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781405166584). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221108102749/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781405166584) from the original on 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2022-11-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-67)** "[Desert Fathers](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Desert-Fathers)". *Encyclopedia Britannica*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-68)** Pius XII. ["Doctor Mellifluus"](http://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_24051953_doctor-mellifluus.html). *The Holy See*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230421163154/https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_24051953_doctor-mellifluus.html) from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-69)** Stephen Beale (20 February 2018). ["Who Was the Last of the Church Fathers?"](https://www.ncregister.com/blog/who-was-the-last-of-the-church-fathers). *National Catholic Register*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230226050612/https://www.ncregister.com/blog/who-was-the-last-of-the-church-fathers) from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-70)** [Pomazansky, Michael](/source/Michael_Pomazansky) (1984) [1973, in Russian], [*Orthodox Dogmatic Theology (English trans.)*](http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0824/_INDEX.HTM), Platina CA: Saint [Herman of Alaska](/source/Herman_of_Alaska) Brotherhood, pp. 37, ff, [archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230404223542/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0824/_INDEX.HTM) from the original on 2023-04-04, retrieved 2015-06-18

1. **[^](#cite_ref-71)** [Henry Beveridge](/source/Henry_Beveridge_(1799-1863)), trans. *Calvin's Tracts* (Calvin Translation Society, Edinburgh. 1849) [*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*]

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Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Church Fathers](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Church_Fathers)***.

- [ChurchFathers.org](https://www.churchfathers.org/) – All of the Church Fathers' writings broken down by topic. Find writings by the Fathers on everything from the Eucharist, to baptism, to the Virgin Mary, to the Pope

- [Church Fathers' works in English](https://www.ccel.org/fathers.html) edited by [Philip Schaff](/source/Philip_Schaff), at the [Christian Classics Ethereal Library](/source/Christian_Classics_Ethereal_Library)

- [Church Fathers at the Patristics In English Project Site](http://www.seanmultimedia.com/Pie_homepage.html)

- [Early Church Fathers Additional Texts](https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/) Part of the Tertullian [corpus](/source/Text_corpus).

- [Excerpts from Defensor Grammaticus](https://web.archive.org/web/20110711020755/http://victorcauchi.fortunecity.com/christwrit/defensor.htm)

- [Excerpts from the Church Fathers](https://web.archive.org/web/20091129041405/http://victorcauchi.fortunecity.com/christwrit/otherfathers.htm)

- [The Fathers, the Scholastics, and Ourselves by von Balthasar](https://archive.today/20130630101530/http://tcrnews2.com/vonbalthasarfathers.html)

- [Faulkner University Patristics Project](https://web.archive.org/web/20090527191442/http://www.faulkner.edu/academics/artsandsciences/humanities/patristics.asp) A growing collection of English translations of patristic texts and high-resolution scans from the comprehensive *Patrologia* compiled by J. P. Migne.

- [Early Church Fathers Writings](https://web.archive.org/web/20141015155327/http://www.biblestudytools.com/history/early-church-fathers/) Ante Nicene, Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers

- [Writings from the church fathers at www.goarch.com.](http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8074.asp) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080922180101/http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8074.asp) 2008-09-22 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [The Fathers of the Church: A New Translation](http://www.orthodox.cn/patristics/frchurchnewtrans_en.htm), by Dr. Roy Joseph Deferrari and Dr. Ludwig Schopp. Works hosted at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

- Migne Patrologia [Latina](http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/25_10_MPL.html) and [Graeca](http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/25_20_MPG.html): a free digital edition of almost all the original texts.

- [Catholic Encyclopedia: The Fathers of the Church](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/)

v t e Saints of the Catholic Church Dicastery for the Causes of Saints Stages of canonization: Servant of God → Venerable → Blessed → Saint Virgin Mary Mother of God (Theotokos) Immaculate Conception Perpetual virginity Assumption Marian apparition Titles of Mary Joseph (husband) Anne (mother) Joachim (father) Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist Zechariah, father of John the Baptist Archangels Gabriel Michael in the Catholic Church Raphael Evangelists Matthew Mark Luke John See also Calendar of saints Four Holy Marshals Fourteen Holy Helpers Great Martyr Martyr of charity Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order Military saints Athleta Christi Miles Christianus Church Militant Seven Champions Venerated couples Virtuous pagan Catholic Church portal Saints portal

v t e History of the Catholic Church General History of the Catholic Church By country or region Ecclesiastical history Timeline Papacy Papal primacy Catholic ecumenical councils First seven Catholic Bible Biblical canon Vulgate Crusading movement History of the Roman Curia Religious institutes Christian monasticism Catholic culture Art Role in civilization Vatican City Papal States Latin Church Eastern Catholic Churches History of Catholic theology Early Church (30–325/476) Origins and Apostolic Age (30–100) Jesus Ministry Crucifixion Resurrection Great Commission Holy Spirit Mary John the Baptist Apostles in the New Testament Commissioning Peter John Paul Stephen Council of Jerusalem Split with Judaism New Testament Background Gospels Acts Pauline epistles General epistles Revelation Ante-Nicene period (100–325) Persecution Church Fathers Apostolic Fathers Pope Clement I Polycarp Ignatius Irenaeus Justin Martyr Canon Tertullian Origen Late antiquity (313–476) Great Church (180–451) Roman state church (380–451) Constantine the Great Christianity Arian controversy Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran Old St. Peter's Basilica First Council of Nicaea Pope Sylvester I First Council of Constantinople Biblical canon Jerome Vulgate Council of Ephesus Council of Chalcedon Early Middle Ages Benedict of Nursia Monasticism Second Council of Constantinople Pope Gregory I Gregorian chant Third Council of Constantinople Saint Boniface Byzantine Iconoclasm Second Council of Nicaea Charlemagne Pope Leo III Fourth Council of Constantinople East–West Schism High Middle Ages Pope Urban II Investiture Controversy Clash against the empire Crusades Universities Scholasticism First Council of the Lateran Second Council of the Lateran Third Council of the Lateran Pope Innocent III Latin Empire Francis of Assisi Fourth Council of the Lateran Inquisition First Council of Lyon Second Council of Lyon Bernard of Clairvaux Late Middle Ages Thomas Aquinas Pope Boniface VIII Western Schism Avignon Papacy Pope Clement V Council of Vienne Knights Templar Catherine of Siena Pope Alexander VI Age of Discovery Protestant Reformation Counter-Reformation Protestant Reformation Catholic Counter-Reformation Exsurge Domine Dissolution of the monasteries Council of Trent Thomas More Pope Leo X Society of Jesus Ignatius of Loyola Francis Xavier Pope Pius V Tridentine Mass Teresa of Ávila John of the Cross Peter Canisius Philip Neri Galileo affair Robert Bellarmine European wars of religion Thirty Years' War Baroque period to the French Revolution Pope Innocent XI Pope Benedict XIV Suppression of the Society of Jesus Age of Enlightenment Anti-clericalism Pope Pius VI Shimabara Rebellion Edict of Nantes Dechristianization of France during the French Revolution 19th century Pope Pius VII Pope Pius IX United States Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Our Lady of La Salette Our Lady of Lourdes First Vatican Council Papal infallibility Pope Leo XIII Mary of the Divine Heart Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart Rerum novarum 20th century Pope Pius X Our Lady of Fátima Persecutions of the Catholic Church and Pius XII Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII 1942 consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Lateran Treaty Second Spanish Republic Nazi Germany Mit brennender Sorge Pope John XXIII Pacem in terris Second Vatican Council Ecumenism Judaism Pope Paul VI (coronation) Pope John Paul I Mother Teresa USSR Pope John Paul II HIV/AIDS World Youth Day 1995 21st century Sexual abuse scandal Islam World Youth Day 2000 2002 2005 2008 2011 2013 2016 2019 2023 Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Laudato si' Havana Declaration COVID-19 pandemic Pope Leo XIV Vatican City portal Catholicism portal

v t e Catholic Church Index Outline Glossary Lists of Catholics History Timeline Ecclesiastical Legal Early Church Jesus Christ Ministry Crucifixion Resurrection Great Commission Apostles Succession Petrine primacy Church Fathers Apostolic Fathers History of the papacy Primacy Great Church Ante-Nicene period Constantine First seven ecumenical councils Nicaea I Chalcedon Late antiquity Biblical canon Monasticism Middle Ages Islamic conquests Pope Gregory I Papal States Schism (1054) Investiture Controversy Crusades Schism (1378) Inquisition Universities Scholasticism Age of Discovery Modern era Protestantism Protestant Reformation Catholic Reformation Trent Thirty Years' War Enlightenment French Revolution Nazism Vatican II Communism Sexual abuse scandal Islam COVID-19 pandemic Theology Bible Tradition Catechism General God Trinity Kingdom Body Divine grace Dogma Nicene Creed Original sin Saints Salvation Sermon on the Mount Ten Commandments Vulgate Official Bible Sixtine Vulgate Sixto-Clementine Vulgate Nova Vulgata Worship Ecclesiology Communitas perfecta Councils Ecumenism Four marks One true church Catholic Infallibility Mystici Corporis Christi People of God Three states Subsistit in In canon law Sacraments Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Penance Anointing of the Sick Last rites Holy orders Matrimony Mariology Assumption History Immaculate Conception Mariology of the popes Mariology of the saints Mother of God Perpetual virginity Veneration See also: Josephology Philosophy Natural law Moral theology Personalism Social teaching Philosophers Philosophy of canon law See also: Science Evolution Separation of church and state Relations Politics Saints Holy Family Mary Joseph Patriarchs Prophets Archangels Martyrs Doctors of the Church Evangelists Confessors Disciples Virgins Organisation Hierarchy Canon law Laity Precedence By country Holy See (List of popes) Pope Leo XIV Ecumenical councils College of Cardinals List Advisers Roman Curia Dicasteries Synod of Bishops Properties Vatican City Index Outline Apostolic Palace Lateran Treaty Roman Rota St. Peter's Basilica Swiss Guard Vatican Museums Polity (Holy orders) Diocese Episcopal conference Eparchy Bishop Patriarch Major archbishop Primate Metropolitan Archbishop Diocesan Coadjutor Auxiliary Titular Emeritus Parish Priest Deacon Consecrated life Religious: Superior Abbot, Abbess General Provincial Prior, Prioress Grand master Brother Friar Monk Sister Nun Hermit Novice Master Oblate Postulant Particular churches sui iuris Latin Church Eastern Catholic Churches Albanian Armenian Belarusian Bulgarian Chaldean Coptic Croatian and Serbian Eritrean Ethiopian Georgian Greek Hungarian Italo-Albanian Macedonian Maronite Melkite Romanian Russian Ruthenian Slovak Syriac Syro-Malabar Syro-Malankara Ukrainian Catholic liturgy Eastern Catholic liturgy Alexandrian Antiochian Armenian Byzantine East Syriac West Syriac Malankara Latin Ambrosian Braga Mozarabic Roman Paul VI Tridentine Anglican Zaire Culture Art Marian Artists Writers Church buildings Altarpieces Folk Library Museums Music Distinctions Role in Western society Science and the Catholic Church See also: Criticism of the Catholic Church Anti-Catholicism Media Holy See Press Office Vatican Media Vatican News Vatican Television Center Vatican Radio Vatican Press [it] L'Osservatore Romano Acta Apostolicae Sedis Annuario Pontificio Religious orders, institutes, societies Assumptionists Annonciades Augustinians Basilians Benedictines Bethlehemites Blue nuns Camaldoleses Camillians Carmelites Carthusians Cistercians Clarisses Conceptionists Crosiers Dominicans Franciscans Good Shepherd Sisters Heralds Hieronymites Jesuits Legionaries Mercedarians Minims Olivetans Oratorians Piarists Premonstratensians Redemptoristines Servites Theatines Trappists Trinitarians Visitandines Associations of the faithful Confraternities Lay Marian Youth Workers Third orders Saint Dominic Lay Carmelites Discalced Saint Francis Secular Military orders Fimcap Catholic Action Charismatic Renewal Communion and Liberation Sant'Egidio Focolare Heralds of the Gospel International Alliance of Catholic Knights Scouting Legion of Mary Neocatechumenal Way Opus Dei Schoenstatt Charities Aid to the Church in Need Caritas Catholic Charities USA Home Missions Relief Services CIDSE Pax Christi Society of Saint Vincent de Paul See also: Health care Schools Universities Catholic Church portal Category

v t e Eastern Orthodox Church Autocephalous and autonomous churches of Eastern Orthodoxy Autocephalous churches Four ancient patriarchates Constantinople Bartholomew I Alexandria Theodore II Antioch John X Jerusalem Theophilos III Junior patriarchates Russia[a] Kirill Serbia Porfirije Bulgaria Daniil Romania Daniel Georgia Shio III Autocephalous archdioceses/metropolises Cyprus George Greece Ieronymos II Albania John Poland Sawa Czech Lands and Slovakia Rastislav America[b] Tikhon Ukraine[b] Epiphanius Ohrid[b] Stefan Autonomous churches Sinai (Jerusalem Patriarchate) Finland (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Estonian AOC (Ecumenical Patriarchate)[b] Estonian COC (Moscow Patriarchate)[b] Japan (Moscow Patriarchate)[b] China (Moscow Patriarchate)[b] Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate)[c] Americas (Romanian Patriarchate) Bessarabia (Romanian Patriarchate)[b] Moldova (Moscow Patriarchate)[b] Semi-autonomous churches Crete (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (Moscow Patriarchate)[d] North America (Antiochian Patriarchate) Diaspora Assemblies Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania Austria Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg Canada France Germany Great Britain and Ireland Italy and Malta Latin America Scandinavia Spain and Portugal Switzerland and Liechtenstein United States of America History Apostles in the New Testament First seven ecumenical councils Church Fathers Great Church State church of the Roman Empire East–West Schism Raskol Old Believers Catacomb Church Old Calendarists Moscow–Constantinople schisms 15th–16th c. 1996 2018 Liturgy Byzantine Rite Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Liturgy of Saint Basil Liturgy of Saint James Liturgy of Saint Mark Western Rite Other Unrecognized Eastern Orthodox churches Eastern Orthodoxy by country Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church Christianity portal ^ The ROC severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018, and later severed full communion with the primates of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Church of Cyprus in 2020. ^ a b c d e f g h i Autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized. ^ UOC-MP has moved to formally cut ties with the ROC as of 27 May 2022. ^ Semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church whose autonomy is not universally recognized.

v t e History of Christianity Spread History of theology Historicity of the Bible List of martyrs Timeline Centuries 1st 2nd and 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st Early Christianity Origins and Apostolic Age Background Chronology of Jesus birth baptism ministry crucifixion resurrection Great Commission ascension historical Jesus Holy Spirit Apostles in the New Testament Jewish Christianity Split Paul the Apostle Council of Jerusalem Gospels Acts Pauline epistles General epistles Revelation Ante-Nicene period Diversity Adoptionism Arianism Docetism Donatism Gnosticism Marcionism Montanism Canon development Persecution Apostolic / Church Fathers Clement of Rome Polycarp Ignatius Irenaeus Justin Martyr Tertullian Origen Great Church Early African Thomasines Late antiquity Constantine Constantinian shift Roman state religion Monasticism Councils Nicaea I Creed Christianity Athanasius Jerome Augustine Constantinople I Ephesus I Chalcedon Chalcedonian / Non-Chalcedonian Biblical canon Catholicism (Timeline) Papacy Development of primacy Eastern Orthodox opposition Peace and Truce of God Crusading movement Lateran IV Art patronage of Julius II Leo X Counter-Reformation Trent Art Catholic Reformation Jesuits Xavier Thomas More Monastery dissolution Wars Mass rocks and priest holes Guadalupe Jansenists Molinists Neo-Scholasticism Teresa Modernism Independent Catholics Vatican I and Vatican II Ecclesial community Eastern Christianity Eastern Orthodoxy Oriental Orthodoxy Church of the East Chrysostom Nestorianism Icons Iconodulism Iconoclasm Great Schism Fall of Constantinople Armenia Georgia Greece Egypt Syriac Ethiopia Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Russia Serbia North America Middle Ages Pelagianism Gregory I Celtic Germanic Anglo-Saxon Franks Gothic Scandinavian Iceland Slavs Bohemia Bulgaria Kievan Rus' Moravia Poland Pomerania Investiture Anselm Abelard Bernard Bogomils Bosnian Cathars Apostolic Brethren Dulcinian Crusades Waldensians Inquisition Early Scholasticism Christian mysticism Dominic Francis Bonaventure Aquinas Five Ways Wycliffe Avignon Papal Schism Bohemian Reformation Hus Conciliarism Synods Reformation and Protestantism Erasmus Eucharist Calvinist–Arminian debate Arminianism Wars Resistance theories Separation of church and state Nicodemites Hymnody of continental Europe Formal and material principles Law and Gospel Literature Protestant work ethic Lutheranism Luther Ninety-five Theses Diet of Worms Theology Bible Melanchthon Book of Concord Orthodoxy Eucharist Art Calvinism Zwingli Calvin Huguenots Presbyterianism Scotland Knox TULIP Baptism Dort Three Forms of Unity Westminster Orthodoxy Metrical psalters Anglicanism (Timeline) Henry VIII Cranmer Elizabethan 39 Articles Puritans Civil War Church music Book of Common Prayer King James Version Anabaptism Theology Radical Reformation Grebel Swiss Brethren Müntzer Martyrs' Synod Menno Simons Smyth Martyrs Mirror Ausbund 1640–1789 Revivalism Missionaries timeline Baptists Separation of church and state Edicts of toleration Congregationalism First Great Awakening Methodism Millerism Pietism Fostering of early experimental science Neo- and Old Lutherans 1789–present Camp meeting Holiness movement Second Great Awakening Restorationists Jehovah's Witnesses Mormonism Seventh-day Adventist Adventism Oxford Movement Laestadianism Finnish Awakening Christian existentialism Third Great Awakening Azusa Revival Gospel music Fundamentalist – Modernist controversy Pacifism Ecumenism Five solae Jesus movement Pentecostalism Charismatics Liberation theology Reformed epistemology Fourth Great Awakening Evangelical and Mainline Protestants Christian right and left Political influence of Evangelicalism in Latin America

v t e Christianity Index Outline Glossary Prophets People Lists of Christians By country Bible (Scriptures) Canon Old Testament New Testament Foundations Church Creed Gospel New Covenant Christian tradition Worship History (timeline) (spread) Early Christianity Jesus in Christianity Chronology Nativity Baptism Ministry Sermon on the Mount Parables Miracles Great Commandment Crucifixion Resurrection Great Commission Ascension Apostles Church Fathers Apostolic Fathers Great Church Ante-Nicene period Late antiquity Constantine First seven ecumenical councils Nicaea I Ephesus Chalcedon State church of the Roman Empire Christian biblical canon Middle Ages Monasticism Papal States East–West Schism Investiture Controversy Crusades Age of Discovery Modern era Auto-da-fé Protestant Reformation Catholic Reformation Thirty Years' War Enlightenment French Revolution Emigration from the Holy Land Relations with Judaism Relations with Islam Influences Denominations (list, members) Western Catholic Old Catholic Independent Catholic (Palmarian) Protestant Adventist Anabaptist Anglican Baptist Charismatic Evangelical Holiness Lutheran Methodist Pentecostal Quakers Reformed Western Rite Orthodoxy Eastern Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite) Church of the East (Nestorian) Eastern Catholic Restorationist Jehovah's Witnesses Latter Day Saint movement LDS Church Iglesia ni Cristo Theology Ablution Angel Born again Christology Divine apathy Ecclesiology Four marks Body of Christ One true church People of God Canon law Faith Fall of man Forbidden fruit Garden of Eden Final Judgement God Trinity Father Son Holy Spirit Good works Heaven Hell Holy water Hygiene Kingdom of God Liturgy Catholic Eastern Catholic Eastern Orthodox Protestant Love of Christ of God Mariology Theotokos Mission Monasticism Mortification Catholic Of the flesh New Covenant Nicene Creed Old Covenant Views Original sin Penance Prayer Repentance Sacraments Baptism Eucharist Marriage Confirmation Penance Anointing of the Sick Holy orders Saints Salvation Satan Sin Eternal sin Mortal sin Sins that cry to Heaven for Vengeance Seven deadly sins Venial sin Tradition Values Vice Works of mercy Worship Philosophy Catholic Natural law Ethics Science Evolution Politics Social mortgage Universal destination of goods Views on poverty and wealth Option for the poor Worldview Other features Culture Alcohol Architecture Architecture of cathedrals and great churches Art Jesus Mary Trinity God the Father Holy Spirit Atonement Calendar Christmas Church buildings Lists of cathedrals Crucifix Cupio dissolvi Evangelism Catechesis Catechism Catholic priest Folk Christianity Open-air Pastor Fallen woman Magdalene asylum Flag Flagellant Forgiveness Literature Marriage Catholic Music Chant Choir Gospel Hymn Introit Pop Psalm Requiem Mythology Pilgrimage Popular piety Redemptive suffering Role in Western society Sabbath in Christianity Self-flagellation Sign of the cross Symbolism Movements Crusading movement Anarchism Charismatic Democracy Evangelism Mission Environmentalism Existentialism Fundamentalism Liberation Left/Right Mysticism Pacifism Prosperity Supremacy Terrorism Traditionalist Catholicism Cooperation Christendom Ecumenism Charta Oecumenica World Council of Churches World Evangelical Alliance Nondenominationalism Related ... and Buddhism ... and Druze ... and Hinduism ... and Islam ... and Judaism ... and Paganism ... and other religions ... and violence ... as an ethnicity Anti-Christian sentiment Christian universalism Criticism Jesus Cultural Christians Good and evil Great Apostasy Martyrs Miracle Nominal Christian Persecution Religious views on love Role in Western society Christianization Cultural Christians Spread Unlimited atonement Views on homosexuality Christianity portal Category

v t e Medieval philosophers Christian Early Church Fathers Augustine of Hippo Boethius Cassiodorus Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite Isidore of Seville John Scotus Eriugena Alcuin 11–12th century Scholasticism Anselm of Canterbury Peter Abelard Alberic of Paris Anselm of Laon Hugh of Saint Victor Richard of Saint Victor Roscelin Peter Lombard Alexander of Hales Bernard of Chartres Dominicus Gundissalinus Gilbert de la Porrée Alain de Lille Sava of Serbia 13–14th century Robert Grosseteste Michael Scot Albertus Magnus Henry of Ghent Roger Bacon Bonaventure Thomas Aquinas Vitello John Peckham Ramon Llull Siger of Brabant Boetius of Dacia Petrus Peregrinus de Maricourt Meister Eckhart Giles of Rome Godfrey of Fontaines Duns Scotus Durandus Petrus Aureolus William of Ockham Late Jean Buridan Marsilius of Inghen Nicole Oresme Albert of Saxony Francesc Eiximenis Nicholas of Cusa Vincent Ferrer Paul of Venice Lambertus de Monte John Hennon Jewish Medieval Isaac Israeli ben Solomon Saadia Gaon Solomon ibn Gabirol Judah Halevi Abraham ibn Daud Maimonides Nachmanides Gersonides Hasdai Crescas Joseph Albo Islamic Early Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber) al-Nazzam Al-Kindi (Alkindus) Abu Bakr al-Razi (Rhazes) Ikhwan al-Safa' (Brethren of Purity) Matta ibn Yunus Al-Farabi (Alpharabius) Abu Ya'qub al-Sijistani Ibn Masarra Abd al-Jabbar Al-Amiri Abu Sulayman al-Sijistani Miskawayh Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) al-Biruni al-Kirmani High Ibn Sina (Avicenna) Ibn Hazm Al-Ghazali (Algazel) Abu l-Barakat al-Baghdadi Ibn Bajjah (Avempace) Ayn al-Quzat Hamadani Ibn Tufayl Ibn Rushd (Averroes) Late Ibn Sab'in Shahab al-Din Yahya ibn Habash Suhrawardi Fakhr al-Din al-Razi Rashid al-Din Ibn Arabi al-Qazwini Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi Athir al-Din al-Abhari Nasir al-Din al-Tusi Ibn al-Nafis Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi Ibn Taymiyya Ibn Khaldun See also Renaissance philosophy

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