Chronological List of the Church Fathers

A chronological list of the Church Fathers

Χρονολογικός κατάλογος των Πατέρων της Εκκλησίας

Index Chronologicus Patrum Ecclesiae

The Church Fathers chronologically, grouped by century,

1st Century (Apostolic Fathers)

The Apostolic Fathers are early Christian writers and leaders considered to have direct or indirect connections to the original apostles of Jesus Christ. Their writings, usually dated between the late 1st and early 2nd centuries, reflect teachings and traditions from the apostolic age and bridge the gap between the New Testament and later Christian theology. These figures did not necessarily meet the apostles in person, but they carried forward the apostolic teachings through their own discipleship, letters, and theological contributions.

1. Saint Peter (Simon Peter) - (? - c. 64/67)

2. Saint Paul - (? - c. 64/67)

3. Saint James the Less - (? - c. 62/69)

4. Saint Clement of Rome - (? - c. 101)

5. Barnabas - (? - c. 61)

6. The author of the Didache - (late 1st century, possibly early 2nd century)

2nd Century (Apostolic Fathers and Apologists)

In early Christianity, Apologists were theologians and writers who defended the Christian faith against misunderstandings, criticism, and persecution from both pagans and Jews. The term ‘apologist’ comes from the Greek word apologia, meaning ‘a defense.’ These Christian thinkers responded to accusations, clarified doctrines, and addressed philosophical challenges, often writing in a way that appealed to both Christian and non-Christian audiences. Their works are typically dated from the 2nd to 3rd centuries, when Christianity faced widespread skepticism and hostility within the Roman Empire.

1. Saint Ignatius of Antioch - (? - c. 105/115)

2. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna - (? - c. 155/167)

3. Papias of Hierapolis - (? - c. 130)

4. Saint Quadratus of Athens - (? - c. 129)

5. Hermas - Author of The Shepherd - (c. 130-140)

6. Saint Aristides of Athens - (c. 130/140 - ?)

7. Saint Justin Martyr - (? - c. 165)

8. Athenagoras of Athens - (c. 180 - ?)

9. Tatian the Syrian - (disciple of Justin Martyr, before 155 - after 172)

10. Saint Melito of Sardis - (c. 160/170 - ?)

11. Saint Theophilus of Antioch - (c. 180 - ?)

12. The author of the Letter to Diognetus - (c. 140-200)

3rd Century (Theologians and Apologists)

1. Saint Irenaeus of Lyons - Bishop and defender against Gnosticism (c. 130 - c. 202)

2. Clement of Alexandria - Theologian (c. 150 - c. 215)

3. Tertullian - Theologian and Apologist (c. 155 - after 220)

4. Saint Hippolytus of Rome - Theologian, Antipope (c. 170 - c. 235)

5. Saint Cyprian of Carthage - Bishop, martyr (c. 200 - 258)

6. Novatian - Theologian, founder of the Novatian schism (c. 200 - 258)

7. Origen of Alexandria - Influential theologian (c. 185 - 254)

8. Minucius Felix - Christian apologist (c. 200 - ?)

4th Century (Ecumenical Councils and Systematic Theology)

1. Saint Eustathius of Antioch - Bishop (c. 270 - c. 327)

2. Saint Alexander of Alexandria - Defender against Arianism (died in 328)

3. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria - Doctor of the Church, defender against Arianism (c. 296 - 373)

4. Saint Hilary of Poitiers - Doctor of the Church, ‘Athanasius of the West’ (c. 315 - 367)

5. Saint Basil the Great - Doctor of the Church, Cappadocian Father (c. 330 - 379)

6. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus - Doctor of the Church, Cappadocian Father (c. 329 - 390)

7. Saint Gregory of Nyssa - Cappadocian Father (c. 335 - 394)

8. Saint Ambrose of Milan - Doctor of the Church, Bishop (c. 339 - 397)

9. Saint Ephrem the Syrian - Doctor of the Church, hymnographer (c. 306 - 373)

10. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem - Doctor of the Church (c. 313/315 - 387)

11. Didymus the Blind - Theologian and writer (c. 313 - 398)

12. Saint John Chrysostom - Doctor of the Church, Patriarch of Constantinople (c. 347 - 407)

13. Saint Marius Victorinus - Theologian and philosopher (? - after 362)

5th Century (Golden Age of Latin Patristics)

1. Saint Augustine of Hippo - Doctor of the Church, Bishop (c. 354 - 430)

2. Saint Cyril of Alexandria - Doctor of the Church, defender of Christology (c. 378 - 444)

3. Saint Leo the Great - Pope, condemned Nestorianism (c. 400 - 461)

4. Saint Orosius - Theologian and historian (c. 375 - after 420)

5. Saint Peter Chrysologus - Doctor of the Church, Bishop of Ravenna (c. 380 - 450)

6. Saint Proclus of Constantinople - Patriarch and theologian (c. 390 - 446)

7. Saint John Cassian - Theologian, founder of Western monasticism (c. 360 - 435)

8. Saint Patrick - Apostle to Ireland (c. 385 - 461)

9. Theodore of Mopsuestia - Theologian (died in 428)

10. James of Sarug - Theologian and poet (c. 450 - c. 521)

6th Century (Transition Period)

1. Saint Benedict of Nursia - Founder of Western monasticism (c. 480 - 547)

2. Saint Boethius - Philosopher and theologian (c. 480 - 524)

3. Saint Gregory the Great - Pope and Doctor of the Church (c. 540 - 604)

4. Saint Leander of Seville - Bishop of Seville (c. 540 - 600)

5. Saint Isidore of Seville - Doctor of the Church, encyclopedist (c. 560 - 636)

7th Century (Defending Orthodoxy)

1. Saint Maximus the Confessor - Theologian, writer (c. 580 - 662)

2. Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem - Patriarch, defender of holy images (died in 644)

3. Saint Bede the Venerable - Historian, theologian (c. 673 - 735)

8th Century (Iconoclast Controversies)

1. Saint John of Damascus - Doctor of the Church, defender of holy images (c. 675 - 749)

2. Saint Germanus I of Constantinople - Patriarch and defender of icons (died in 740)

3. Saint Boniface - Apostle to the Germans (c. 675 - 754)

4. Saint Alcuin of York - Theologian, educator (c. 735 - 804)

9th Century (The Carolingian Renaissance)

1. Saint Rabanus Maurus - Theologian, abbot (c. 780 - 856)

2. Saint Notker of Saint Gall - Monk, poet (c. 840 - 912)

3. Photius I of Constantinople - Scholar and theologian (c. 820 - 891)

10th Century (Western Scholastic Development)

1. Saint Odo of Cluny - Reformer, monastic leader (c. 878 - 942)

2. Saint Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury, reformer (c. 909 - 988)

3. Saint Oswald of Worcester - Bishop, reformer (c. 925 - 992)

Greek Fathers

The Greek Fathers of the Church are influential theologians and writers from the early Christian Church, primarily from the Eastern Christian tradition. Here’s a list of the Greek Fathers:

1. Andrew of Crete (d. 740)

2. Aphraates (4th century)

3. Saint Archelaus (d. 282)

4. Athanasius of Alexandria (d. 373)

5. Anastasius of Sinai (d. 700)

6. Athenagoras of Athens (2nd century)

7. Basil the Great (d. 379)

8. Caesarius of Nazianzus (d. 369)

9. Clement of Alexandria (d. 215)

10. Clement of Rome (d. 97)

11. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444)

12. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386)

13. Didymus the Blind (d. 398)

14. Diodorus of Tarsus (d. 392)

15. Dionysius the Great (d. 264)

16. Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373)

17. Epiphanius (d. 403)

18. Eusebius of Caesarea (d. 340)

19. Eustathius of Antioch (4th century)

20. Firmilian of Caesarea (d. 268)

21. Gennadius I of Constantinople (5th century)

22. Germanus I of Constantinople (d. 732)

23. Gregory of Nazianzus (d. 390)

24. Gregory of Nyssa (d. 395)

25. Gregory Thaumaturgus (d. 268)

26. Hermas of Rome (2nd century)

27. Hippolytus of Rome (d. 236)

28. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107)

29. Isidore of Pelusium (d. 450)

30. John Chrysostom (d. 407)

31. John Climacus (d. 649)

32. John of Damascus (d. 749) (last of the Eastern Fathers)

33. Pope Julius I (d. 352)

34. Justin Martyr (d. 165)

35. Leontius of Byzantium (6th century)

36. Macarius the Great (d. 390)

37. Maximus the Confessor (d. 662)

38. Melito of Sardis (d. 180)

39. Methodius of Olympus (d. 311)

40. Nilus the Elder (d. 430)

41. Origen (d. 254)

42. Polycarp of Smyrna (d. 155)

43. Proclus of Constantinople (d. 446)

44. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (6th century)

45. Serapion (d. 370)

46. Sophronius (d. 638)

47. Tatian (2nd century)

48. Theodore of Mopsuestia (d. 428)

49. Theodoret of Cyrrhus (d. 458)

50. Theophilus of Antioch (2nd century)

These Greek Fathers played a foundational role in shaping the doctrines and theological perspectives of early Christianity in the Eastern Church.

Latin Fathers

The Latin Fathers of the Church were influential theologians and writers from the Western Christian tradition. Here’s a list of the Latin Fathers:

1. Ambrose of Milan (d. 397)

2. Arnobius of Sicca (d. 330)

3. Augustine of Hippo (d. 430)

4. Benedict of Nursia (d. 550)

5. Caesarius of Arles (d. 542)

6. John Cassian (d. 435)

7. Celestine I (d. 432)

8. Cornelius (d. 253)

9. Cyprian of Carthage (d. 258)

10. Damasus (d. 384)

11. Dionysius (d. 268)

12. Ennodius of Pavia (d. 521)

13. Eucherius of Lyon (d. 450)

14. Fulgentius (d. 533)

15. Gregory of Elvira (d. 392)

16. Gregory the Great (d. 604)

17. Hilary of Poitiers (d. 367)

18. Ildefonsus of Toledo (d. 667)

19. Innocent of Rome (d. 417)

20. Irenaeus of Lyon (d. 202)

21. Isidore of Seville (d. 636) (last of the Western Fathers)

22. Jerome of Stridon (d. 420)

23. Lactantius (d. 323)

24. Leander of Seville (d. 602)

25. Pope Leo the Great (d. 461)

26. Marius Mercator (d. 451)

27. Marius Victorinus (d. ca. 382)

28. Martin of Braga (d. 579)

29. Minucius Felix (2nd century)

30. Novatian (d. 257)

31. Optatus (4th century)

32. Hosius of Cordoba (d. 357)

33. Pacianus (d. 390)

34. Pamphilus of Caesarea (d. 309)

35. Paulinus of Nola (d. 431)

36. Peter Chrysologus (d. 450)

37. Phebadius (4th century)

38. Rufinus of Aquileia (d. 410)

39. Salvian (5th century)

40. Pope Siricius (d. 399)

41. Tertullian (d. 222)

42. Venantius Fortunatus (d. 610)

43. Vincent of Lerins (d. 450)

Note: The Venerable Bede (d. 735) is sometimes added to the list of Latin Fathers.

These Fathers contributed significantly to the development of Christian doctrine, the defense of the faith, and the establishment of ecclesiastical practices in the Western Church.