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Also known as: "Patristic Studies"

Prayer Foundation / Prayer / God's Word / FYI / Monks / Features / Books / Movies  / Search Our Site / Home / Site Map / Become A Monk / Contributors Gifts / Contact Us The era of the Church Fathers is from the completion of the New Testament to 750 A.D.

Who are the "Church Fathers"?  And what exactly are "Church Fathers"?  They could perhaps also be referred to as Early Church Writers.  They are of varying importance.  Many were great Theologians, but also practicing Bishops, men who were deeply concerned with practical and pastoral matters.  Here we have added the often neglected Celtic believers to the mix.  

Some have greatly influenced historic Church teaching (Doctrine).  The foremost were acknowledged as "Doctors of the Church" (preeminent teachers).  Of this group (which includes The Venerable Bede, a monk who was the first English historian), eight particularly stand out.   From the Eastern Church: Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Basil the Great.  From the Western Church: Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great.   

And of course in Celtic Christianity, none of whom were much for writing, but were tremendous examples in their lives and especially in their missionary zeal for evangelism, we are especially influenced by St. Patrick, Columcille (Columba), Aidan, and Columban (Columbanus).

Index: ____________________________________________________________

• By or About the Church Fathers:

•   Ca. 93-94 A.D.:

• Polycarp's Letter to the Philippians

•   150 A.D.:

• Justin Martyr: On Christian Worship

•   Ca. 175-185 A.D.:

• Irenaeus: "Against Heresies" Chapter 10

•   200 A.D.:

• Tertullian: "On Prayer"

•   Before 313 A.D.:

• Athanasius: "On the Incarnation"

•   320 A.D.:

• Eusebius: "History of the Church"

•   325 A.D.:

• Nicene Creed

•   329-379 A.D.:

• Basil the Great (Brief History)

•  356-363 A.D.:

•  Athanasius: "Life of St. Antony"

•   Before 373 A.D.:

• Athanasius: "Praying the Psalms"

•   Ca. 373 A.D.:

• Athanasian Creed

•   Ca. 390 A.D.:

• "The Confessions" (of St. Augustine)

• Ca. 397 - 407 A.D.:

• John Chrysostom: Homily 6 On Prayer

•   433 - 497 A.D.:

• St. Patrick's "Breastplate" Prayer

• St. Patrick's "Confession"

• St. Patrick's "Letter to Coroticus"

• Ca. 500 - 547 A.D.:

• "The Rule of St. Benedict" by St. Benedict of Nursia

• 498 - 618 A.D.:

• Kevin of Glendalough

•   521-597 A.D.:

• Columcille's Poem (Columba)

• Columcille's Boat Song (Columba)

•   Ca. 565-590 A.D.:

• John Climacus On Prayer

•   Ca. 600-651 A.D.:

• Aidan's Prayer

•   731 A.D.:

• Bede: "Ecclesiastical History of the English People"

• Not on this website:

• CCEL (Christian Classics Ethereal Library): "The Church Fathers" - Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post Nicene Primary Sources - Chrysostom, Augustine      

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• About the Church Fathers:

• Book Reviews:

• Eusebius: " History of the Church"

• Saint Augustine: Early Church Father

• "Flame In My Heart: St. Aidan for Today" (David Adam)

• "Fire of the North: Illustrated Life of St. Cuthbert" (David Adam)

• Bede: "Ecclesiastical History of the English People"

• "History of the Christian Church" (Schaff)

• "Church History in Plain Language"

• "131 Christians Everyone Should Know"

• "Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers"

• "Learning Theology with the Church Fathers"

• "The Christian Tradition" Vols. 1-5 (History of Doctrine-Jaroslav Pelikan)

• "Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture"

•   Movie Reviews:

• "History of Christianity"

• "History of Orthodox Christianity"

• "The First Valentine" (St. Valentine)

•   "Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa" (Animated)

• "Augustine of Hippo" (Pioneers of the Spirit)

• "Patrick"

• "The Confession of St. Patrick" (One-Man Show: Roger Nelson) 

• "St. Patrick: Apostle of Ireland"

• "Patrick: Brave Shepherd of the Emerald Isle" (Animated)

• "St. Patrick: The Irish Legend" (Patrick Bergin)

• "Legends of Ireland" (St. Patrick / Brendan the Navigator)

• "Pillars of Faith: Celtic Saints" (Docudrama)         

• "Island Soldiers: History of the Celtic Saints"

• "Memorable Leaders in Christian History: Aidan"

• "Memorable Leaders In Christian History: Lindisfarne Gospels" 

•  "Memorable Leaders In Christian History: Cuthbert"        

•  "Memorable Leaders In Christian History: Bede"

• Articles (Favorite Monks):

• Aidan of Lindisfarne

• Brendan the Navigator

• Columbanus (Columban)

• Columcille (Columba)

• Cuthbert of Lindisfarne

• Ninian of Whithorn

• Brendan the Navigator

• The Venerable Bede

• Venerable Bede Painting (by J. D. Penrose)

• Index:

• St. Patrick Pages

• Excerpted from Philip Schaff's "History of the Christian Church", Volume III, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity, A.D. 300-390:

• Why Protestants Don't Pray to Mary (Early History of Veneration of Mary)

• Why Protestants Don't Pray to Saints (Early History of Veneration of Saints)

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See Also:

• Christian History Pages

• Christian History Timeline

• Brief History of Monasticism

• St. Patrick Pages

• Celtic Pages

• Orthodox Related Pages

• Roman Catholic Related Pages

• Movie Review: "Memorable Leaders In Christian History: Hild"  

• Favorite Monks: "Hild, Abbess of Whitby" (Painting)

• Women of God

• Not on this website:

• CCEL (Christian Classics Ethereal Library): "The Church Fathers" - Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post Nicene Primary Sources - Chrysostom, Augustine