St.

Gregory of Nyssa Personal: Bishop of Milan (374) Fame is chiefly as a theologian Place and dates: (Neocaesarea, now in Turkey) 335?-394 Writings: Against Eunomius: a defense of the Nicene Creed, Great Catechetical Discourse: a defense of the Christian faith against Jews and pagans, On Faith: a treatise against the Arians, Ten Syllogisms: directed against the Apollinarists St. Ambrose Personal: Bishop of Milan (374) Defended the churches of Milan against Arianism Friend of Monica, mother of Augustine, and finally brought Augustine into the Church Place and dates: (Tier, now in Germany) 340?-397 Writings: On Faith: a Christian morals manual, On the Sacraments: an exegetical treatise, On the Holy Spirit: an exegetical treatise, Composed many hymns St. Jerome Personal: Biblical scholar Ordained a priest in 386 Secretary to Pope Damasus I in 382 Confronted many heresies, especially Pelagianism Place and dates: (Stridon, present day Slovenia) 345?-419 Writings: The Vulgate: translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin, 383-384, in Rome St. John Chrysostom Personal: Ordained a priest in 386 Greatest orator of the early Church Patriarch of Constantinople in 398 Place and dates: (Antioch, Syria) 349?-407 Writings: On the Priesthood, Homilies. Wrote commentaries, epistles, treatises, and liturgies St. Augustine Personal: Son of Monica (332?-387) Born a pagan Converted in 387 and baptized by Ambrose Ordained a priest in 391 Bishop of Hippo (395) Combated Manichean heresy (conflict of Good and Evil) Martin Luther and John Calvin were close students of the works of Augustine Place and dates: (Numidia, now Algeria) 354-430 Writings: Confessions (c. 400): his autobiography, The City of God (413-426): great Christian apologia; a theological philosophy of history, Retractions (428): final verdict of earlier works, Epistles (386-429), On Free Will (388-395), On Christian Doctrine (397), On Baptism: Against the Donatists (400), On the Trinity (400-416) On Nature and Grace (415), Homilies

St. Cyril of Alexandria Personal: Patriarch of Alexandria in 412 Leader of the Council of Ephesus, 431 Instrumental in condemning Nestorianism Place and dates: (Alexandria) 376-444 Writings: Against Nestorius Against Julian the Apostate Prolific writer St. Gregory I (The Great) Personal: Prefect of Rome in 570 Became a monk in 575 Elected pope (r. 590-604) Enhanced prestige of the papacy Upheld Romes traditional claims of church primacy over the patriarch of Constantinople Introduced liturgical reforms and Gregorian chant Extensive pastoral activity. Place and dates: (Rome) 540?-604 Writings: Moralia: a commentary on the Book of Job Pastoral Care: describes the ideal bishop; instruction on the practice and nature of preaching Dialogues: legends of saints of his own time St. John Damascene Personal: Financial officer to Saracen caliph Resigned in 700 Entered a monastery and ordained a priest Opposed the Iconoclasts Place and dates: (Damascus, Syria) 675-749 Writings: Source of Knowledge: three part text of dogmatic theology in the early Greek church; contains a complete theological system based on the early Greek fathers and synods of 4th-7th centuries

Apostolic and Post-Apostolic Fathers of the Church

The term Apostolic Fathers applies to certain disciples and successors of the twelve apostles. In a more restricted sense, the term is applied to a group of Greek-language writers who were among the martyrs and major figures of the 1st and 2nd centuries in the Christian Church. St. Clement I (Clement of Rome) Personal: 4th Bishop of Rome Place and dates: r. 92 - 101 Writings: I Clement or Letter to the Corinthians (c. 96): earliest piece of literature outside the NT historically attested; addressed disputes in the Church at Corinth; II Clement (a sermon) (c. 140): Clementine authorship disputed St. Ignatius of Antioch Personal: Martyr for the faith Disciple of John the Evangelist Condemned to die by wild beasts in Rome Brought from Antioch to Rome and wrote seven letters to churches and individuals along the way Place and dates: d. 110 Writings: Letter to Ephesians, Letter to Magnesians, Letter to Tralles, Letter to Philadelphians, Letter to Smyrnans, Letter to Polycarp of Smryna, Letter to Romans These contain warnings against heretical doctrines; contain detailed summaries of doctrines; and a picture of Church organization with bishops, presbyters (elders) and deacons. First to stress Virgin Birth and to use the term catholic church St. Polycarp of Smyrna Personal: Received a visit and letter from Ignatius Represented the Church of Asia Minor in meetings with Pope Anicetus Dating of Easter A teacher of Irenaeus Knew John the Evangelist and other apostles Was a disciple of John the Evangelist Place and dates: 69-155 Writings: Polycarp to the Philippians Martyrdom of Polycarp (about him) Unknown Author of the Didache Personal: Unknown Place and dates: (Syria) 70-110? Writings: Didache (Teaching): A compendium of moral precepts, instructions on organization of church communities, liturgical worship and regulation.

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Barnabas Personal: Surname of Joseph, a member of the early Christian church in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36) Companion of Paul Did missionary work with Mark (Acts 15:39) Place and dates: c. 130 Writings: Letter of Barnabas, Allegorical interpretation of the Old Testament Papias of Hierapolis Personal: Contemporary of Polycarp Knew of a collection of the sayings of the Lord to have been written in Aramaic or Hebrew by Matthew Place and dates: (Phrygia) 120? Writings: Five Books of Exegeses of the Dominical Oracles. Hermas (Author Unknown) Personal: Little known Place and dates: (Rome) 140? Writings: Mandates, Similitudes, The Shepherd: a vivid description of early Christianity Post-Apostolic Fathers of the Church The term Post-Apostolic Fathers is the name given by the Christian Church to the writers who established Christian doctrine before the 8th century. The writings of the Fathers or Patristic Literature synthesized Christian doctrine as found in the Bible, especially the gospels, the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, ecclesiastical dictums, and decisions of the Church councils. St. Justin (Martyr) Personal: Philosopher, theologian, early apologist, martyr Convert to Christianity Place and dates: (Rome) 100-165 Writings: Apologies for the Christians: erudite defense of Christians against charges of atheism and sedition, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew: a record of an actual discussion at Ephesus; valuable information about 2nd century Christian Church St. Irenaeus Personal: Heard the preaching of Polycarp the disciple of John the Evangelist Appointed the bishop of Lyon (177) Place and dates: (Asia Minor) 140?-202? Writings: Against the Heresies: written against the Gnostics; contributed to the knowledge of Gnosticism

Clement of Alexandria Personal: Greek theologian Converted from paganism Ordained a presbyter A teacher of Origen Place and dates: (Athens) 150?-215? Writings: Hortatory Address to the Greeks: a defense of the faith, The Tutor: instruction in manners and morals, The Miscellanies: a discussion of various points of doctrinal theology designed to guide the mature Christian to perfect knowledge Tertullian Personal: Converted to Christianity between 190 and 195 Became a presbyter of the Church (197) Zealous champion of Christianity Profoundly influences later Church fathers Embraced and became a leader of the Montanists (207?) a sect later declared heretical Place and dates: (Rome) 160?-220? Writings: Apologeticus (c. 197): his most famous work; a defense of Christians against pagan charges, On the Claims of Heretics: argues that the Church alone has the authority to declare what is and is not orthodox Christianity, On Baptism On Prayer: throws light on contemporary religious practices Origen Personal: A student of Clement Ordained a presbyter The most accomplished biblical scholar of the early Church Father of the allegorical method of scripture interpretation He developed the idea of Christ as Logos or Incarnate Word Place and dates: (Alexandria) 185?-254? Writings: Against Celsus: closely reasoned apologetic work refuting the arguments advanced by the Celsus, the first serious critic of Christianity St. Cyprian Personal: Convert to Christianity c. 245 Bishop of Carthage, 248 One of the most authoritative Fathers of the Church Involved in controversy over treatment of those who had left the Church, and those who were baptized by heretics: accepted the teaching of Rome. Place and dates: (Carthage) 200-258 Writings: On Unity of the Catholic Church: exposition of the hierarchical organization of the Church

St. Athanasius Personal: Played a prominent role in the theological struggle in the Council of Nicea (325) Opposed Arius (256-336) who maintained that the Son was of a different substance from that of the Father, and was merely a creature Formulated the homousian doctrine that the Son of God is the same essence of substance of the Father Became bishop of Alexandria (328) Place and dates: (Alexandria) 293-373 Writings: Discourses Against the Arians History of the Arians, Apology Against the Arians, On the Decrees of the Nicene Synod Cyril of Jerusalem Personal: Bishop of Jerusalem in 351 Embroiled in controversy over episcopal duties Place and dates: (Jerusalem) 315?-387? Writings: 23 Treatises: addressed to catechumens and newly baptized; some treatises are doctrinal and present the creed of the Church; some are concerned with ritual and present a detailed account of Baptism, Eucharist and chrism St. Basil Personal: Brother of Gregory of Nyssa and a friend of Gregory of Nazianzus Patriarch of Eastern monasticism Wrote a rule of the monastic way of life Founded the Basilian monks (360) Bishop of Caesarea (370). Place and dates: (Caesarea Mazaca) 329?-379 Writings: Against Eunomius: written against the Arian leader Eunomius On the Holy Spirit: a doctrinal treatise Moralia: an anthology of New Testament verses, Liturgy of St. Basil St. Gregory of Nazianzus Personal: Bishop of Sasima (371) Took charge of the Nicene congregation of Constantinople where he delivered five discourses on the Trinity that earned him fame as The Theologian Place and dates: (Nazianzus in Cappadocia, now Turkey) 329?-389 Writings: Philokalia (Love of the Beautiful): an anthology of the writings of Origen