Church Fathers

Early Church Fathers Library

Fourteen profiles with dates, place, role, major writings, teachings and quotations with exact references.

Clement of Rome

died c. AD 99

Bishop of Rome; Apostolic Father

Ignatius of Antioch

c. AD 35 – c. 107

Bishop of Antioch; Apostolic Father and martyr

Polycarp of Smyrna

c. AD 69 – c. 155

Bishop of Smyrna; martyr

Justin Martyr

c. AD 100 – c. 165

Philosopher, apologist, martyr

Irenaeus of Lyons

c. AD 130 – c. 202

Bishop of Lyons; theologian

Tertullian

c. AD 155 – c. 220

Apologist and theologian writing in Latin

Origen of Alexandria

c. AD 185 – c. 253

Biblical scholar, teacher and theologian

Cyprian of Carthage

c. AD 200 – 258

Bishop of Carthage; martyr

Athanasius of Alexandria

c. AD 296 – 373

Bishop of Alexandria; Doctor of the Church

Basil the Great

c. AD 330 – 379

Bishop, monastic legislator, Doctor of the Church

Gregory of Nazianzus

c. AD 329 – 390

Bishop; called “the Theologian”

John Chrysostom

c. AD 347 – 407

Preacher, Archbishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church

Jerome

c. AD 347 – 420

Translator, biblical scholar, Doctor of the Church

Augustine of Hippo

AD 354 – 430

Bishop of Hippo; Doctor of the Church

Papias of Hierapolis

c. AD 60 – c. 130

Bishop and collector of oral traditions about the Apostles

Aristides of Athens

fl. c. AD 125

Philosopher and apologist

Hippolytus of Rome

c. AD 170 – 235

Presbyter, theologian and rival claimant to the Roman see

Eusebius of Caesarea

c. AD 260 – 339

Bishop and the first great historian of the Church

Ephrem the Syrian

c. AD 306 – 373

Deacon, poet and Doctor of the Church

Basil the Great

AD 330 – 379

Bishop, monastic legislator and Doctor of the Church

Gregory of Nazianzus

c. AD 329 – 390

Bishop, orator, Doctor of the Church, called 'the Theologian'

John Chrysostom

c. AD 347 – 407

Archbishop, preacher and Doctor of the Church

Jerome

c. AD 347 – 420

Priest, biblical scholar and Doctor of the Church

Ambrose of Milan

c. AD 339 – 397

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Cyril of Jerusalem

c. AD 313 – 386

Bishop, catechist and Doctor of the Church

Leo the Great

c. AD 400 – 461

Pope and Doctor of the Church

Benedict of Nursia

c. AD 480 – 547

Abbot and father of western monasticism

Gregory the Great

c. AD 540 – 604

Pope, monk and Doctor of the Church

John of Damascus

c. AD 675 – 749

Monk, priest and Doctor of the Church