The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church, particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective Church (disambiguation Christian Church and the word church are used to denote both a Christian association of people and a Place of worship The term is used of writers and teachers of the Church, not necessarily saints. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity It is generally not meant to include the New Testament authors, though in the early Church some writing of Church Fathers were considered canonical.

St. Athanasius, depicted with a book, an iconographic symbol of the importance of his writings.

Apostolic Fathers

Main article: Apostolic Fathers

The very earliest Church Fathers, of the first two generations after the Apostles of Christ, are usually called the Apostolic Fathers. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e Famous Apostolic Fathers include St. Clement of Rome (c 30 - c 100),^[1] St. Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna. Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus) (ca 35-110 was the third Bishop and Patriarch of Antioch and possibly a student of the Apostle John Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (ca 69 – ca 155 was a second century Bishop of Smyrna. In addition, the Didache and Shepherd of Hermas are usually placed among the writings of the Apostolic Fathers although their authors are unknown. The Didache ( Koine Greek:, Didachē, meaning "Teaching" ˈdɪdəkiː in English ðiðaˈxi in Modern Greek) is the common name of a brief The Shepherd of Hermas (sometimes just called The Shepherd) is a Christian work of the second century considered a valuable book by many Christians

St. Clement of Rome

Main article: Clement of Rome

His epistle, 1 Clement (c 96),^[1] was copied and widely read. Saint The Epistles of Clement ( 1 Clement and 2 Clement) are two letters ascribed to Saint Clement, an Apostolic Father, and the fourth Pope Clement calls on the Christians of Corinth to maintain harmony and order. ^[1] It is the earliest Christian epistle outside the New Testament. Tradition identifies him as the fourth Pope and Bishop of Rome and his epistle asserts Rome's apostolic authority over its audience, the church in Corinth. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and The Bishop of Rome is the bishop of the Holy See, more often referred to in the Catholic tradition as the Pope.

Ignatius of Antioch

Main article: Ignatius of Antioch

Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus) (c 35-110)^[2] was the third Bishop or Patriarch of Antioch and a student of the Apostle John. Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus) (ca 35-110 was the third Bishop and Patriarch of Antioch and possibly a student of the Apostle John Year 35 was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title carried by the Bishop of Antioch. Saint John the Apostle ( Greek Ιωάννης, see Names of John) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. En route to his martyrdom in Rome, Ignatius wrote a series of letters which have been preserved as an example of the theology of the earliest Christians. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Christian Theology is discourse concerning Christian faith Christian theologians use biblical Exegesis, rational analysis and argument A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Important topics addressed in these letters include ecclesiology, the sacraments, and the role of bishops. Ecclesiology (from Greek grc ἐκκλησίᾱ ekklēsiā, "congregation church" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight He is the second after Clement to mention Paul's epistles. ^[1]

Polycarp

Main article: Polycarp

Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (c 69- ca. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (ca 69 – ca 155 was a second century Bishop of Smyrna. 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings 155) was a Christian bishop of Smyrna (now İzmir in Turkey). Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight This article is on the Ancient Greek city of Smyrna principally in connection with the ruins remaining to this day İzmir, historically Smyrna, is the third most populous city of Turkey and the country's largest port after İstanbul. It is recorded that "He had been a disciple of John. " The options for this John are John the son of Zebedee traditionally viewed as the author of the Fourth Gospel, or John the Presbyter (Lake 1912). Saint John the Apostle ( Greek Ιωάννης, see Names of John) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. For the mythical king see Prester John John the Presbyter is an obscure figure in early Christian tradition who is either distinguished Traditional advocates follow Eusebius in insisting that the apostolic connection of Papius was with John the Evangelist, and that this John, the author of the Gospel of John, was the same as the Apostle John. Saint John the Evangelist (d ca 110 יוחנן " The LORD is merciful" Standard Hebrew Yoḥanan, Tiberian Hebrew The Gospel of John (literally According to John; Greek, Κατὰ Ἰωάννην Kata Iōannēn) is the fourth Gospel in the canon Polycarp, c 156, tried and failed to persuade Anicetus, Bishop of Rome, to have the West celebrate Easter on 14 Nisan, as in the East. He rejected the Pope's suggestion that the East use the Western date. In 155, the Smyrnans demanded Polycarp's execution as a Christian, and he died a martyr. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom His story has it that the flames built to kill him refused to burn him, and that when he was stabbed to death, so much blood issued from his body that it quenched the flames around him. ^[1] Polycarp is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world

Didache

Main article: Didache

The Didache (Koine Greek: "Teaching"^[3]) is a brief early Christian treatise, dated by most scholars to the early second century. The Didache ( Koine Greek:, Didachē, meaning "Teaching" ˈdɪdəkiː in English ðiðaˈxi in Modern Greek) is the common name of a brief Koine Greek (Κοινὴ Ἑλληνική, "common Greek" or, ciˈni ðiˈale̞kto̞s "the common dialect" is the popular form of Greek which emerged in Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c A treatise is a formal lengthy systematic Discourse on some subject ^[4] It contains instructions for Christian communities. The text, parts of which may have constituted the first written catechism, has three main sections dealing with Christian lessons, rituals such as baptism, eucharist, and Church organization. A catechism (ˈkætəkɪzəm κατηχισμός is a summary or exposition of Doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those It was considered by some of the Church Fathers as part of the New Testament. ^[5] but rejected as spurious or non-canonical by others,^[6] Scholars knew of the Didache through references in other texts, but the text itself had been lost. It was rediscovered in 1873.

Shepherd of Hermas

Main article: Shepherd of Hermas

The Shepherd of Hermas (2nd century) was popular in the early church and even considered scriptural by some of the early Church fathers, such as Irenaeus and Tertullian. The Shepherd of Hermas (sometimes just called The Shepherd) is a Christian work of the second century considered a valuable book by many Christians Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca It was written at Rome, in Greek. The Shepherd had great authority in the second and third centuries. The work comprises five visions, twelve mandates, and ten parables. It relies on allegory and pays special attention to the Church, calling the faithful to repent of the sins that have harmed it.

Greek Fathers

Those who wrote in Greek are called the Greek (Church) Fathers. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Famous Greek Fathers include St. Irenaeus of Lyons (whose work has survived only in Latin translation), Clement of Alexandria, the heterodox Origen, St. Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France Saint Clement of Alexandria (born Titus Flavius Clemens) (c150 - 211/216 was the first notable member of the Church of Alexandria, and one of its most Heterodoxy includes "any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position" Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Athanasius of Alexandria, St. John Chrysostom, and the Three Cappadocian Fathers. This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos. The Cappadocians (or Cappadocian philosophers, Cappadocian Fathers) are significant figures in the history of the Church Fathers, who significantly

Irenaeus of Lyons

Main article: Irenaeus

Saint Irenaeus, (b. Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France 2nd century; d. end of 2nd/beginning of 3rd century) was bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, which is now Lyons, France. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western ||-||} Lyon, also known as Lyons in English is a city in east-central France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. 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 Roman Catholic Church. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world He was a notable early Christian apologist. Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections He was also a disciple of Polycarp, who was said to be a disciple of John the Evangelist. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (ca 69 – ca 155 was a second century Bishop of Smyrna. Saint John the Evangelist (d ca 110 יוחנן " The LORD is merciful" Standard Hebrew Yoḥanan, Tiberian Hebrew

His best-known book, Against Heresies (c 180) enumerated heresies and attacked them. On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis ( commonly called Against Heresies (Latin Adversus haereses,) is a five-volume work Irenaeus wrote that the only way for Christians to retain unity was to humbly accept one doctrinal authority--episcopal councils. ^[1] Irenaeus was the first to propose that all four gospels be accepted as canonical.

Clement of Alexandria

Main article: Clement of Alexandria

Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens) (c. Saint Clement of Alexandria (born Titus Flavius Clemens) (c150 - 211/216 was the first notable member of the Church of Alexandria, and one of its most 150-211/216), was the first member of the Church of Alexandria to be more than a name, and one of its most distinguished teachers. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια He was born about the middle of the 2nd century, and died between 211 and 216. He united Greek philosophical traditions with Christian doctrine and valued gnosis that with communion for all people could be held by common Christians. Gnosis (from one of the Greek words for Knowledge, γνώσις is the spiritual knowledge of a Saint or mystically enlightened human being Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". He developed a Christian Platonism. Platonism is the Philosophy of Plato or the name of other philosophical systems considered closely derived from it ^[1] Like Origen, he arose from Alexandria's Catechical School and was well versed in pagan literature. ^[1] Origen succeeded Clement as head of the school. ^[1]

Origen

Main article: Origen

Origen, or Origen Adamantius (c 185 - c254) was an early Christian scholar and theologian. Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Events By place Roman Empire Pertinax quells the mutiny of the British Roman legions Perennis his family Events May 12 — Pope Stephen I succeeds Pope Lucius I as the 23rd Pope. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective According to tradition, he was an Egyptian^[7] who taught in Alexandria, reviving the Catechetical School of Alexandria where Clement had taught. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια The Catechetical School of Alexandria (founded ca 190 was a place for the training of Christian Theologians and priests in Alexandria. Saint Clement of Alexandria (born Titus Flavius Clemens) (c150 - 211/216 was the first notable member of the Church of Alexandria, and one of its most 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 and died there^[8] after being tortured during a persecution. Caesarea Maritima (Greek παράλιος Καισάρεια called Caesarea Palaestina from 133 CE onwards was a city and Harbor built by Herod the Great

Using his knowledge of Hebrew, he produced a corrected Septuagint. The Septuagint (ˈsɛptuədʒɪnt or simply " LXX " is the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, translated in stages between the ^[1] He wrote commentaries on all the books of the Bible. ^[1] In Peri Archon (First Principles), he articulated the first philosophical exposition of Christian doctrine. ^[1] He interpreted scripture allegorically and showed himself to be a Stoic, a Neo-Pythagorean, a Platonic, and a Gnostic. ^[1] Like Plotinus, he wrote that the soul passes through successive stages before incarnation as a human and after death, eventually reaching God. Plotinus ( Greek:) (ca AD 204–270 was a major philosopher of the ancient world who is widely considered the founder of Neoplatonism (along with his ^[1] He imagined even demons being reunited with God. For Origen, God was not Yahweh but the First Principle, and Christ, the Logos, was subordinate to him. ^[1] His views of a hierarchical structure in the Trinity, the temporality of matter, "the fabulous preexistence of souls," and "the monstrous restoration which follows from it" were declared anathema in the 6th century. Anathema (in Greek Ανάθεμα meaning originally something lifted up as an offering to the gods later with evolving meanings it came to mean to be formally ^[9][10]

Athanasius of Alexandria

Main article: Athanasius of Alexandria

Pope Athanasius I of Alexandria (c 293-May 2, 373), also known as St. Events By Place Roman Empire March 1 — Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Events By Place Roman Empire Quintus Aurelius Symmachus becomes Proconsul of Africa. Athanasius the Great and St. Athanasius the Apostolic, was a theologian, Pope of Alexandria, a Church Father, and a noted Egyptian leader of the fourth century. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective The Pope of The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, or Pope of Alexandria for short is the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. He is best remembered for his role in the conflict with Arius and Arianism. Arius ( AD ca 250 or 256 - 336 was a Christian priest from Alexandria Egypt in the early fourth century whose teachings now called Arianism Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. At the first Council of Nicaea (325), Athanasius argued against Arius and his doctrine that Christ is of a distinct substance from the Father. ^[1]

John Chrysostom

Main article: John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom (c 347– c 407), archbishop of Constantinople, is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos. In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured deliberate manner intended to inform influence or entertain the listeners The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. After his death (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek surname chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed", rendered in English as Chrysostom. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States ^[11][12]

Chrysostom is known within Christianity chiefly as a preacher, theologian and liturgist, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Preacher is a term the for someone who preaches Sermons or gives homilies Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Outside the Christian tradition Chrysostom is noted for eight of his sermons which played a considerable part in the history of Christian antisemitism, and were extensively misused by the Nazis in their ideological campaign against the Jews. Although Christian antisemitism is considered to have started around the 12th century its roots are attributed by some scholars to anti-Jewish attitudes and polemic beginning Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German ^[13][14]

Cappadocian Fathers

Main article: Cappadocian Fathers

The Cappadocians promoted early Christian theology, and are highly respected in both Western and Eastern churches as Saints. The Cappadocians (or Cappadocian philosophers, Cappadocian Fathers) are significant figures in the history of the Church Fathers, who significantly They were a 4th-century monastic family, led by St Makrina to provide a central place for her brothers to study and meditate, and also to provide a peaceful shelter for their mother. Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one Abbess Makrina fostered the education and development of three men who collectively became designated the Cappadocian Fathers, Basil the Great who was the second oldest of Makrina's brothers (the first being the famous Christian jurist Naucratius) and eventually became a bishop, Gregory of Nyssa who also became eventually a bishop of the diocese associated thereafter with his name, and Peter who was the youngest of Makrina's brothers and later became bishop of Sebaste. Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (c 330 – January 1, 379) (Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Latin Saint Naucratius was the son of Basil the Elder and Emmelia of Caesarea. Gregory of Nyssa ( Greek: Άγιος Γρηγόριος Νύσσης Latin: Gregorius Nyssenus; Arabic: غريغوريوس النيصي Peter is a popular male Given name. It comes from the Greek word πετρος (petros meaning "rock"

These scholars along with a close friend, Gregory Nazianzus, Patriarch of Constantinople set out to demonstrate that Christians could hold their own in conversations with learned Greek-speaking intellectuals and that Christian faith, while it was against many of the ideas of Plato and 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- one best represented by monasticism. Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop They made major contributions to the definition of the Trinity finalized at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 and the final version of the Nicene Creed which was formulated there. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных The Second Ecumenical Council the first held in Constantinople was called by Theodosius I in 381 which confirmed the Nicene Creed and dealt with other matters such The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of

Subsequent to the First Council of Nicea, Arianism did not simply disappear. The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. The semi-Arians taught that the Son is of like substance with the Father (homoiousios) as against the outright Arians who taught that the Son was like the Father (homoean). Ousia () is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle of ( to be) it is analogous to the English participle 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 (now orthodox) formula "three substances (hypostases) in one essence (ousia)," 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. Ousia () is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle of ( to be) it is analogous to the English participle

Latin Fathers

Those fathers who wrote in Latin are called the Latin (Church) Fathers. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Famous Latin Fathers include the Montanist Tertullian, St. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca Cyprian of Carthage, St. This page is about Cyprian bishop of Carthage For other Cyprians see Cyprian (disambiguation. Gregory the Great, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Ambrose of Milan, and St. Saint Ambrose (c 338 &ndash 4 April 397) was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the fourth century Jerome. Jerome (c 347 – September 30, 420) ( Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος

Tertullian

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (c 160 - c 225), who was converted to Christianity before 197, was a prolific writer of apologetic, theological, controversial and ascetic works. Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections ^[15] He was the son of a Roman centurion.

Tertullian denounced Christian doctrines he considered heretical, but later in life adopted views that themselves came to be regarded as heretical. 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". Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. He was a notable lawyer in Rome during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. (Marcus Aurelius died in 180, when Tertullian may have been not even twenty years old. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor ) He is said to have introduced the Latin term "trinitas" with regard to the Divine (Trinity) to the Christian vocabulary^[16] (but Theophilus of Antioch (c. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных There is also a Theophilus of Alexandria ( c AD 412 Theophilus, Patriarch of Antioch, succeeded Eros c 115 - c. 183) already wrote of "the Trinity, of God, and His Word, and His wisdom"), ^[17] and also probably the formula "three Persons, one Substance" as the Latin "tres Personae, una Substantia" (itself from the Koine Greek "treis Hypostases, Homoousios"), and also the terms "vetus testamentum" (Old Testament) and "novum testamentum" (New Testament). A persona, in the word's everyday usage is a social Role or a character played by an Actor. Homoousian (from the Greek όμοιοs meaning same and ουσία meaning essence or being is a technical theological term used in discussion of the Koine Greek (Κοινὴ Ἑλληνική, "common Greek" or, ciˈni ðiˈale̞kto̞s "the common dialect" is the popular form of Greek which emerged in Ousia () is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle of ( to be) it is analogous to the English participle In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon.

In his Apologeticus, he was the first Latin author who qualified Christianity as the "vera religio", and systematically relegated the classical Roman Empire religion and other accepted cults to the position of mere "superstitions". The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial

Later in life, Tertullian joined the Montanists, a heretical sect that appealed to his rigorism. ^[15]

Cyprian

Saint Cyprian (Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) (died September 14, 258) was bishop of Carthage and an important early Christian writer. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths ravage Asia Minor and Trabzon. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Carthage (Καρχηδών Karkhēdōn, Carthago from the Phoenician קרת חדשת phn-Latn Qart-ḥadašt meaning new town) refers Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings He was probably born at the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received an excellent classical (pagan) education. The 3rd century is the period from 201 to 300 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. See also History of North Africa Carthage and the Berbers See also Carthage Phoenician traders arrived on the North African coast Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world After converting to Christianity, he became a bishop (249) and eventually died a martyr at Carthage. Events By Place Roman Empire Decius, who was proclaimed Emperor by the army in Moesia, defeats and kills Philip the Arab The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom

Ambrose

Saint Ambrose^[18] (c. 338 – 4 April 397), was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the fourth century. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Events By Place Asia The Xiongnu occupy the Gansu area in China. He is counted as one of the four original doctors of the Church. Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals

Jerome

Saint Jerome (c 347 – September 30, 420) is best known as the translator of the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. Events By Topic Religion Council of Sardica: An attempt is made to resolve the Arian controversy and ground rules for bishops Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Events By Place Europe Pharamond leads the Franks across the Rhine. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. He also was a Christian apologist. Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections Jerome's edition of the Bible, the Vulgate, is still an important text of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vulgate is an early Fifth Century version of the Bible in Latin, and largely the result of the labours of Jerome, who was commissioned by As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described He is recognised by the Roman Catholic Church as a Doctor of the Church. Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals

Augustine

Saint Augustine (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430), Bishop of Hippo, was a philosopher and theologian. Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Events By Place Roman Empire Constantius Gallus, Caesar of the East is deposed and executed on orders of Constantius II Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Events By Place Asia Feng Ba abdicates as emperor of the Northern Yan, one of the states vying for control of China Augustine, a Latin Father and Doctor of the Church, is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church Augustine was radically influenced by Platonism. ^[19] He framed the concepts of original sin and just war as they are understood in the West. Original sin is according to a doctrine in Catholic theology, humanity's state of Sin resulting from the Fall of Man. Just War theory is a Doctrine of military ethics of Roman philosophical and Catholic origin studied by moral Theologians Ethicists and international When Rome fell and the faith of many Christians was shaken, Augustine developed the concept of the Church as a spiritual City of God, distinct from the material City of Man. ^[1] Augustine's work defined the start of the medieval worldview, an outlook that would later be firmly established by Pope Gregory the Great. A comprehensive world view (or worldview) is a term Calqued from the German word Weltanschauung ( Welt is the German ^[1]

Augustine was born in present day Algeria to a Christian mother, Saint Monica. Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's Monica (or Monnica) of Hippo (331 – 387 is a Christian Saint and the mother of Augustine of Hippo, who wrote extensively of her He was educated in North Africa and resisted his mother's pleas to become Christian. North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan He lived as a pagan intellectual, took a concubine, and became a Manichean. Manichaeism (in Modern Persian fa-Arab آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese zh 摩尼教 was one of the major Gnostic Religions originating He later converted to Christianity, became a bishop, and opposed heresies, such as the belief that people can deserve salvation by being good (Pelagianism). Pelagianism is a theological theory named after Pelagius (ad 354 – ad His works—including The Confessions, which is often called the first Western autobiography—are still read around the world. Confessions ( Latin: Confessiones) is the name of an Autobiographical work consisting of 13 books by St An autobiography, from the Greek αὐτός autos "self" βίος bios "life" and γράφειν graphein "to write" In addition he believed in Papal supremacy. Referring to the doctrine of papal supremacy the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes in paragraph 882 “the Roman Pontiff by reason of his office as Vicar ^[20]

Gregory the Great

Saint Gregory I the Great (c. 540 – March 12, 604) was pope from September 3, 590 until his death. Events By place Byzantine Empire General Belisarius conquers Milan and the Ostrogothic capital Ravenna Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Events By Place Ancient Japan Prince Shotoku issues a Seventeen-article constitution. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Events By Place Byzantine Empire Summer - Maurice agrees to Khosrau's entreaties and agrees to restart the war with Persia

He is also known as Gregorius Dialogus (Gregory the Dialogist) in Eastern Orthodoxy because of the Dialogues he wrote. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world A dialogue (sometimes spelled dialog) is a reciprocal Conversation between two or more entities. He was the first of the Popes from a monastic background. Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one 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). Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church Saint Ambrose (c 338 &ndash 4 April 397) was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the fourth century Jerome (c 347 – September 30, 420) ( Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος Of all popes, Gregory I had the most influence on the early medieval church. The Early Middle Ages is a period in the History of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire spanning roughly five centuries from AD 500 ^[21]

Apologetic Fathers

Later, in the face of criticism from Greek philosophers and facing persecution, the Apologetic Fathers wrote to justify and defend Christian doctrine. Important Fathers of this era are St. Justin Martyr, Tatian, Athenagoras of Athens, Hermias and Tertullian. Saint Justin Martyr (also Justin the Martyr, Justin of Caesarea, Justin the Philosopher, Latin Iustinus Martyr or Flavius Tatian the Assyrian was an early Christian writer and theologian of the second century. Athenagoras (ca 133-190 was a Christian Apologist who lived during the second half of the 2nd century of whom little is known for certain besides that he was Hermias (sometimes Hermias philosophus) was an obscure Christian Apologist presumed to have lived in 3rd century. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca

Other Fathers

The Desert Fathers were early monastics living in the Egyptian desert; although they did not write as much, their influence was also great. Desert Fathers were Christian Hermits, Ascetics and Monks who lived mainly in the Scetes desert of Egypt, beginning around Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Among them are St. Anthony the Great and St. Saint Anthony the Great (c 251–356 also known as Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Pachomius. Saint Pachomius (ca 292-348 also known as Abba Pachomius and Pakhom in Arabic الأنبا باخوميوس, is generally recognized as the founder of A great number of their usually short sayings is collected in the Apophthegmata Patrum ("Sayings of the Desert Fathers").

A small number of Church Fathers wrote in other languages: Saint Ephrem, for example, wrote in Syriac, though his works were widely translated into Latin and Greek. Ephrem the Syrian ( Syriac: ܐܦܪܝܡ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ Mor Afrêm Sûryāyâ; Greek:; Latin See Syriac (disambiguation for other uses Syriac (syr ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ leššānā Suryāyā) is an Eastern Aramaic language

Modern positions

In the Roman Catholic Church, St. John of Damascus, who lived in the 8th century, is generally considered to be the last of the Church Fathers and at the same time the first seed of the next period of church writers, scholasticism. Chrysorrhoas redirects here For the river see Barada. Saint John of Damascus ( Arabic: يوحنا الدمشقي Scholasticism was the dominant form of theology and philosophy in the Latin West in the Middle Ages, particularly in the 12th 13th and 14th centuries St. Bernard is also at times called the last of the Church Fathers. Bernard of Clairvaux, OCist ( 1090 - August 20, 1153) was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian monastic order

The Eastern Orthodox Church does not consider the age of Church Fathers to be over and includes later influential writers, even up to the present day, in the term. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Among the Orthodox, the Church Fathers, or as they call them, Holy Fathers do not have to all agree on every detail, much less be infallible. Rather, Orthodox doctrine is determined by the consensus of the Holy Fathers—those points on which they do agree. Consensus has two common meanings One is a general agreement among the members of a given group or Community, each of which exercises some discretion in This consensus guides the Church in questions of faith, the correct interpretation of Scripture, and to distinguish the authentic Sacred Tradition of the Church from false teachings. Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek, plural) is the established Belief or Exegesis (from the Greek 'to lead out' involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a Holy Sacred Tradition or Holy Tradition is a technical theological term used in some Christian traditions primarily in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox ^[22]

Though much Protestant religious thought is based on 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, relied heavily on the theological interpretations of scripture set forth by the early Church Fathers. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Sola scriptura ( Latin ablative, "by scripture alone" is the assertion that the Bible as God's written word is self-authenticating The original Lutheran Augsburg Confession of 1531, for example, and the later Formula of Concord of 1576-1584, each begin with the mention of the doctrine professed by the Fathers of the First Council of Nicea. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Augsburg Confession, also known as the "Augustana" from its Latin name Confessio Augustana is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Formula of Concord ( 1577) ( Latin: Formula concordiae, " Harmony Concord " also the " Bergic Book " is an authoritative The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine 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. John Calvin (or Jean Calvin) (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564 was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and Hilary, St. Athanasius, St. Ambrose and St. Cyril. "^[23] The Scots Confession of 1560 deals with general councils in its 20th chapter. The Scots Confession (also called the Scots Confession of 1560) is a Confession of Faith written in 1560 by six leaders of the Protestant Reformation The Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, both the original of 1562-1571 and the American version of 1801, explicitly accept the Nicene Creed in article 7. The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion were established in 1563 and are the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine in relation to the controversies of the The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday 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 Westminster Confession of 1647. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed Confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition Many Protestant seminaries provide courses on Patristics as part of their curriculum. A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is a specialized and often live-in Higher education institution for the purpose of instructing students Patristics or Patrology is the study of early Christian writers known as the Church Fathers.

Patristics

Main article: Patristics

The study of the Church Fathers is known as "Patristics". Patristics or Patrology is the study of early Christian writers known as the Church Fathers.

Works of fathers in early Christianity, prior to Nicene Christianity, were translated into English in a 19th century collection Ante-Nicene Fathers. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c This is a general introduction to ecumenical councils For the Roman Catholic councils, see Catholic Ecumenical Councils. The Ante-Nicene Fathers, subtitled "The Writings of the Fathers Down to A Those of the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and continuing through the Second Council of Nicea (787) are collected in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine Events By Place Roman Empire Gladiatorial combat is outlawed in the Roman Empire The Second Council of Nicaea was the seventh Ecumenical council of Christianity; it met in 787 AD in Nicaea (site of the First Council Events By Place Europe Canual succeeds Talorgen as king of the Picts. The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers is a set of books containing translations of early Christian writings into English

References

See also

• Doctors of the Church
• List of Church Fathers

Defined as an early writer of Christian doctrine; a Christian writer of the pre-8th century group of scholars who established the doctrines and practices of Christianity in their work (usually used in the plural). Doctor of the Church ( Latin doctor, teacher from Latin docere, to teach is a title given by a variety of Christian Churches to individuals The following is a list of Christian Church Fathers. Catholics generally regard the Patristic period to have closed with the death of John of Damascus,

External links

• Chart of Church Fathers at ReligionFacts.com
• Church Fathers' works in English edited by Philip Schaff, at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
• Church Fathers at Newadvent.org
• Church Fathers at the Patristics In English Project Site
• Early Church Fathers Additional Texts Part of the Tertullian corpus. Philip Schaff ( January 1, 1819 – October 20, 1893) was a Swiss -born German -educated Protestant The Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL is a Digital library that provides free electronic copies of Christian Scripture and Literature
• Excerpts from Defensor Grammaticus
• Excerpts from the Church Fathers
• The Fathers, the Scholastics, and Ourselves by von Balthasar
• Faulkner University Patristics Project A growing collection of English translations of patristic texts and high-resolution scans from the comprehensive Patrologia compiled by J. P. Migne.
• Primer on the Church Fathers at Corunum
• Writtings from the church fathers at www.goarch.com.
• The Fathers of the Church: A New Translation, by Ludwig Schopp, founder and editorial director. Works hosted at the Internet Archive
• Migne Patrologia Latina and Graeca: a free digital edition of almost all the original texts. The Internet Archive ( IA) is a Nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining an on-line Library and archive of Web and