List of Church Fathers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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, a Doctor of the Church, in 749. However, Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that the Patristic period is ongoing. Therefore, the list is split into two tables.
Contents |
[edit] Until John of Damascus
| Church Father | Date of death | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian the monk of Antioch | wrote a manual on the Antiochene method of Scriptural exegesis[1] | |
| Alexander of Alexandria[2] | 326 | |
| Alexander of Lycopolis | 4th century | |
| Ambrose of Milan | 397 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Western Church; strongly opposed Arianism |
| Amphilochius of Iconium[1][2] | before 403 | |
| Ananias of Shirak[2][3] | 7th century | wrote a work on Christmas and one on Easter |
| Anastasius Sinaita[1][2] | 7th century | |
| Andrew of Caesarea[1] | 6th century | commented on the Apocalypse |
| Andrew of Crete[2] | 8th century | author of the 250-strophe Great Canon |
| Anthony the Great[1] | 356 | |
| Aphraates | 367 | Mesopotamian bishop who authored 23 homilies[1] |
| Apollinaris of Laodicea | ||
| Apollonius of Ephesus | 210 | |
| Archelaus | wrote against Manichaeism | |
| Aristides the Athenian[1][2] | 134 | |
| Aristo of Pella[1] | 2nd century | |
| Arnobius[1] | 330 | author of Against the Heathen |
| Arsenius the Great | 445 | |
| Aspringius of Beja | commented on the Apocalypse[4] | |
| Asterius of Amasea[2] | 405 | wrote sermons on morality including topics like divorce and covetousness, and the parables of Jesus Christ |
| Athanasius | 373 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Eastern Church |
| Athenagoras of Athens[1] | 190 | wrote in defense of the resurrection of the dead[2] |
| Atticus[1] | 420s | |
| Augustine of Hippo | 430 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Western Church (Doctor Gratiae) |
| Aurelius Prudentius[1][2] | early 5th century | commented on the Psalms[5] |
| Ausonius | 395 | |
| Avitus of Vienne[1] | 523 | author of the five-book poem De spiritualis historiae gestis; converted King Sigismund; combated Arianism |
| Barnabas[2] | 61 | |
| Basil the Great of Caesarea | 379 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Eastern Church and one of the Three Holy Hierarchs; father of monachism |
| Bede[1] | 735 | Doctor of the Church and author of Ecclesiastical History of the English People |
| Benedict of Nursia[1][2] | 547 | best known for the Rule of St Benedict |
| Boethius[2] | 520s | author of Consolation of Philosophy |
| Braulio of Saragossa | 651 | commented on the Psalms[5] |
| Caesarius of Arles[1] | 542 | commented on the Apocalypse |
| Caius | 3rd century | |
| Cassiodorus[1][2] | 585 | |
| Chromatius[2] | 407 | wrote sermons on the Gospel of Matthew |
| Clement of Alexandria | 210s | |
| Pope Clement I | 101 | |
| Coelius Sedulius[1] | 5th century | |
| Columba of Iona[1][2] | 597 | |
| Commodianus | 3rd century | |
| Cyprian of Carthage[1] | 258 | |
| Cyril of Alexandria | 444 | Doctor of the Church (Doctor Incarnationis) combated the Nestorian heresy |
| Cyril of Jerusalem | 386 | Doctor of the Church who wrote thorough instructions to catechumens and baptized Christians[1] |
| Pope Damasus I | 384 | |
| Didymus the Blind[1] | 398 | teacher of Jerome and Rufinus; follower of Origen; opponent of Arianism and the Macedonian heresy; works condemned at the Fifth Ecumenical Council and the Sixth Ecumenical Council |
| Diodore of Tarsus[1] | 390 | |
| Dionysius of Corinth[1] | 2nd century | |
| Pope Dionysius of Rome[1] | 268 | combated Sabellianism |
| Dionysius the Areopagite | ||
| Pope Dionysius the Great of Alexandria | 265 | |
| Ephrem the Syrian | 373 | Doctor of the Church |
| Epiphanius of Salamis | 403 | friend of Jerome who strongly opposed Origenism and wrote a history of heresies |
| Eucherius of Lyon[1][2] | 449 | |
| Eugippius[3] | 6th century | |
| Eusebius of Caesarea | 339 | |
| Eusebius of Emesa | 360 | commented on Genesis[6] |
| Eusebius of Vercelli[1] | 371 | |
| Firmilian[1] | 269 | |
| Fulgentius of Ruspe | 6th century | |
| Gaius Marius Victorinus | 4th century | combated Arianism[1] |
| Gennadius of Massilia[1] | 496 | |
| Pope Gregory I the Great | 604 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Western Church and author of Dialogues |
| Gregory of Nazianzus | 389 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Eastern Church; one of three Orthodox saints honored with the title "The Theologian;" one of the Three Holy Hierarchs |
| Gregory of Nyssa | 394 | |
| Gregory of Tours[2] | 594 | |
| Gregory Thaumaturgus | 270 | |
| Hegesippus of Palestine[1] | 180 | a Jewish convert who combated Gnosticism and Marcionism |
| Hermias[2] | 3rd century | |
| Hesychius of Jerusalem | 5th century | |
| Hilary of Poitiers | 367 | Doctor of the Church |
| Hippolytus of Rome[1][2] | 235 | |
| Ignatius of Antioch | 107 | |
| Irenaeus | end of 2nd or beginning of 3rd century | |
| Isaac of Nineveh | 700 | ascetic author of many spiritual homilies who commented on the Psalms[5] and contributed significantly to Syrian piety; was not Christologically Nestorian[7] |
| Isho’dad of Mery | commented on the Book of Job | |
| Isidore of Pelusium | 449 | author of 2000 letters dealing primarily with allegorical exegesis[1] |
| Isidore of Seville[1][2] | 636 | Doctor of the Church |
| Jacob of Serugh[3][5][8] | 521 | a.k.a. Mar Jacob |
| Jerome | 420 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Western Church |
| John Cassian[1][8] | 435 | |
| John Chrysostom | 407 | one of the Four Great Doctors of the Eastern Church and one of the Three Holy Hierarchs |
| John Climacus[8] | 606 | |
| John of Damascus | 749 | Doctor of the Church and author of An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith and ascetic and exegetical writings and hymns; Peter Lombard based his Four Books of Sentences on the works of John of Damascus and Thomas Aquinas based his Summa Theologica on Peter Lombard’s Sentences |
| Julianus Pomerius[1] | author of De Vita Contemplativa concerning Christian sanctity | |
| Julius Firmicus Maternus | 4th century | |
| Justin Martyr | 165 | |
| Juvencus[1] | 4th century | |
| Lactantius | 320 | |
| Pope Leo I the Great | 461 | Doctor of the Church |
| Leontius of Byzantium[1] | 543 | |
| Lucian of Antioch[1] | 312 | |
| Lucifer[1] | 370 | combated Arianism and defended Athanasius at the Council of Milan in 354 |
| Macarius of Alexandria[8] | 395 | |
| Macarius of Egypt[8] | 391 | |
| Malchion | played key role in the deposition of Paul of Samosata | |
| Marcus Minucius Felix[1][8] | author of Octavianus | |
| Marius Mercator | 451 | made a compilation on Nestorianism and another on Pelagianism[1] |
| Martin of Bruga | 4th century | commented on the Psalms[5] |
| Martin of Tours[8] | 397 | |
| Mathetes | author of an Epistle to Diognetus | |
| Maximus of Turin[1] | 465 | |
| Maximus the Confessor[1][8] | 662 | |
| Meletius of Antioch[8] | 381 | |
| Melito of Sardis | 180 | author of an important sermon called On Pascha about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ |
| Methodius of Olympus[1][8] | 311 | combated Origenism |
| Moses of Chorene | 490 | author of A History of Armenia |
| Nectarius of Constantinople[8] | 398 | |
| Nicetas of Remesiana | the patron saint of Romania commented on the Psalms[5] | |
| Nilus of Sinai | 430 | |
| Nonnus | 5th century | |
| Novatian[1] | 258 | commented on the Psalms[5] |
| Oecumenius | 6th century | author of the first extant Greek commentary on the Apocalypse[4] |
| Optatus | 4th century | combated Donatism[1] |
| Origen | 254 | posthumously anathematized at Fifth Ecumenical Council |
| Orosius[1] | 420 | |
| Pachomius[1][8] | 348 | Father of Christian cenobitic monasticism |
| Pacian of Barcelona[8] | 391 | combated Novatianism |
| Palladius of Helenopolis[1][8] | 5th century | |
| Pamphilus of Caesarea | 309 | |
| Pantamus | 214 | first to make the Catechetical school of Alexandria famous[1] |
| Papias[8] | 155 | disciple of John the Evangelist and Ariston[1] |
| Patrick[8] | 5th century | |
| Paulinus of Nola[8] | 431 | |
| Peter Chrysologus | 450 | Doctor of the Church |
| Pope Peter of Alexandria | 311 | |
| Philip the priest | commented on the Book of Job | |
| Philoxenus of Hierapolis[3] | 6th century | author of 13 ascetic discourses who combated Nestorianism, Manichaeism, and Marcionism |
| Poemen | commented on the Psalms[5] | |
| Polycarp | 155 | |
| Proclus of Constantinople | 440s | |
| Prohaeresius[1] | 367 | |
| Prosper of Aquitaine[1] | 455 | |
| Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite | author of The Divine Names, The Mystical Theology, The Celestial Hierarchy, The Ecclesiastical Hierachy, and the non-extant Theological Outlines; quoted extensively in the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas | |
| Quadratus of Athens[1] | 2nd century | wrote a non-extant apology to Emperor Hadrian |
| Rabbula[3][9] | 435 | ascetic and energetic bishop of Edessa and ally of Cyril of Alexandria who opposed the heretical teachings of Nestorius |
| Romanos the Melodist[9] | 556 | |
| Sahdona | commented on the Psalms[5] | |
| Salvian[1][9] | 490s | Gallic author of On the government of God |
| Severian of Gabala | 408 | commented on Genesis[6] and the First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians |
| Severus of Antioch[3][9] | 6th century | |
| Sextus Julius Africanus[1][8] | 3rd century | |
| Sidonius Apollinaris[1][9] | ||
| Socrates of Constantinople | 5th century | |
| Sophronius[9] | 638 | |
| Sozomen | 450 | |
| Sulpicius Severus[9] | 420 | disciple and biographer of Martin of Tours and author of an Ecclesiastical History[1] |
| Synesius of Syrene[1][9] | 414 | |
| Tatian | 185 | |
| Tertullian | 222 | died a Montanist |
| Theodore of Mopsuestia[1] | 428 | commented on Acts of the Apostles and the First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians |
| Theodoret of Cyrus | 457 | continuator of Eusebius of Caesarea[1] |
| Theodotus of Ancyra | 4th century | |
| Theophilus of Antioch[1] | 180s | first writer known to have used the term Trinity to describe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit |
| Theotimos | 407 | |
| Tichonius | 390 | commented on the Apocalypse; his seven principles of interpretation from his Book of Rules inspired Augustine of Hippo [4] |
| Tyrannius Rufinus | 410 | friend of Jerome and continuator of Eusebius of Caesarea[1] who commented on the Psalms[5] |
| Valerian of Cimiez | commented on the Psalms[5] | |
| Venantius Fortunatus | 600s | wrote a poem on Easter |
| Victor of Antioch | commented on the Gospel of Mark[1] | |
| Victorinus of Pettau | 303 | author of On the Creation of the World and a Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John |
| Vincent of Lérins | 450 | |
| Zeno of Verona | 371 | |
| Pope Zephyrinus | 217 | commented on the Psalms |
[edit] After John of Damascus
| Church Father | Date of death | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Athanasius the Athonite[2] | 1000 | |
| Gregory Palamas[10] | 1359 | Pillar of Orthodoxy and defender of Hesychasm |
| Innocent of Alaska | 1879 | his The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven is often used as an Orthodox catechism[2] |
| Mark of Ephesus[8] | 1444 | Pillar of Orthodoxy |
| Nicholas Cabasilas[8] | 1391 | |
| Photius the Great[8][10] | 893 | Pillar of Orthodoxy and author of Bibliotheca |
| Symeon Metaphrastes[9] | 10th century | |
| Symeon the New Theologian[10] | 1022 | one of three Orthodox saints honored with the title "The Theologian" |
| Theodore the Studite | 826 | |
| Theophan the Recluse[9] | 1894 |
[edit] Notes and References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm Chapman, John (1909), Fathers of the Church, vol. I, New York: Robert Appleton Company, <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06001a.htm>. Retrieved on 29 January 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Steenberg, M.C. (2008), The Patristics Master List, Page 1 (A-I), <http://monachos.net/library/Patristics_Master_List%2C_Page_1>. Retrieved on 29 January 2008
- ^ a b c d e f Pearse, Roger (2007), Early Church Fathers: Additional Texts, <http://tertullian.org/fathers>. Retrieved on 29 January 2008
- ^ a b c Weinrich, William C. (2005), Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament, vol. VIII: Revelation
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wesselschmidt, Quentin F. (2007), Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament, vol. VIII: Psalms 51-150
- ^ a b Sheridan, Mark (2002), Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament, vol. II: Genesis 12-50
- ^ Arendzen, J.P. (1910), Isaac of Nineveh, vol. VIII, New York: Robert Appleton Company, <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08176a.htm>. Retrieved on 31 January 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Steenberg, M.C. (2008), The Patristics Master List, Page 2 (J-P), <http://monachos.net/library/Patristics_Master_List%2C_Page_2>. Retrieved on 29 January 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Steenberg, M.C. (2008), The Patristics Master List, Page 3 (Q-Z), <http://monachos.net/library/Patristics_Master_List%2C_Page_3>. Retrieved on 29 January 2008
- ^ a b c Azkoul, Dr. Fr. Michael, Who Is A Church Father?, <http://www.geocities.com/trvalentine/orthodox/churchfather.html>. Retrieved on 30 January 2008
[edit] See also
- Ante-Nicene Fathers
- Apostolic Fathers
- Cappadocian Fathers
- Church Fathers
- Desert Fathers
- Doctors of the Church
- Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers
- Patristics
- Patrologia Graeca
- Patrologia Latina
- Patrologia Orientalis
- Three Holy Hierarchs
[edit] External links
- Fathers of the Church (Catholic Encyclopedia)
- Monachos Patristics Master List
- Who is a Church Father? by Dr. Fr. Michael Azkoul
- Writings of Church Fathers from NewAdvent
