Fathers of the Church

An extensive set of writings from the Fathers of the Church: early saintly authors whom the Church recognizes as her special witnesses of the faith.

Our collection is the 19th century Eerdman's edition of early Christian writers, which is in the public domain. It includes not only the Fathers per se, but also other early writings of historical interest. For clarity, we provide a brief description as well as the provenance for each work.

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Click on any heading to browse that section. To search the text of the Fathers, use the Advanced search button (above) and select Fathers of the Church on the drop-down search menu.

By Author

A

B

C

D

Dionysius
- Against the Sabellians
Dionysius the Great
Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth
- Fragments from a Letter to the Roman Church

E

F

Firmilian
- Epistle LXXIV: Firmilian, Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, to Cyprian, against the Letter of Stephen

G

H

I

J

L

M

Malchion
- I.—the Epistle Written By Malchion, in Name of the Synod of Antioch, against Paul of Samosata
Mara Bar-Serapion
- Letter
Marcion of Smyrna
- The Encyclical Epistle of the Church At Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp
Mark
- The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, the Disciple of the Holy Peter
Maximus, Bishop of Jerusalem
- From the Book Concerning Matter, or in Defence of the Proposition that matter Is Created, and Is Not the Cause of Evil
Melito, the Philosopher
- Fragments
Methodius
Minucius Felix
- The Octavius
Moses of Chorene
- History of Armenia

N

Novatian
- A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity
- On the Jewish Meats

O

Origen

P

Pamphilus
- An Exposition of the Chapters of the Acts of the Apostles
Pantaenus, the Alexandrian Philosopher
- Fragments
Papias of Hierapolis
- Fragments of Papias from the Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord
Peter of Alexandria
Phileas
- Fragments of the Epistle of Phileas to the People of Thmuis
- The Epistle to Meletius, Bishop of Lycopolis
Philip, a Disciple of Bardesan
- The Book of the Laws of Divers Countries
Pierius of Alexandria
- Fragments
Polycarp of Smyrna
- The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus
- From His Epistle to Victor and the Roman Church Concerning the Day of keeping the Passover
Pontius the Deacon
- The Life and Passion of Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr
Pseudo-Irenaeus
- The Letter of the Churches of Vienna and Lugdunum to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia

Q

Quadratus
- From the Apology for the Christian Religion

R

S

Salaminius Hermias Sozomenus
- The Ecclesiastical History
Serapion, Bishop of Antioch
- Fragments
Simeon Metaphrastes
- Martyrdom of the Holy Confessors Shamuna, Guria, and Habib, from Simeon Metaphrastes
Socrates Scholasticus
- The Ecclesiastical History
Sulpitius Severus

T

U

Unknown

V

Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus
- On Easter (De Resurrectione)
Victorinus
- Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John
- On the Creation of the World
Vincent of Lerins
- A Commonitory: for the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith against the profane Novelties of All Heresies

Chronologically

0 - 99 AD

50 - 59 AD
- Barnabas
  - The Epistle of Barnabas
60 - 69 AD
- Adaeus and St. Maris, Teachers of the Easterns
  - The Liturgy of the Blessed Apostles
- Mark
  - The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, the Disciple of the Holy Peter
70 - 79 AD
- Unknown
  - The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (Didache)
90 - 99 AD
- Clement of Rome
  - The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

100 - 199 AD

100 - 109 AD
110 - 119 AD
- Mara Bar-Serapion
  - Letter
120 - 129 AD
- Aristides
  - The Apology of Aristides the Philosopher
- Papias of Hierapolis
  - Fragments of Papias from the Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord
- Quadratus
  - From the Apology for the Christian Religion
140 - 149 AD
- Aristo of Pella
  - From the Disputation of Jason and Papiscus
- Unknown
  - The Second Epistle of Clement
  - The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
150 - 159 AD
160 - 169 AD
- Justin Martyr
- Unknown
  - The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs Justin, Chariton, Charites, Paeon, and liberianus, Who Suffered At Rome
170 - 179 AD
- Athenagoras of Athens
  - A Plea for the Christians
- Claudius Apollinaris, Bishop of Hierapolis, and Apologist
  - Fragments
- Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth
  - Fragments from a Letter to the Roman Church
- Hegesippus
  - Fragments from His Five Books of Commentaries on the Acts of the Church
- Melito, the Philosopher
  - Fragments
- Pseudo-Irenaeus
  - The Letter of the Churches of Vienna and Lugdunum to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia
180 - 189 AD
- Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus
  - From His Epistle to Victor and the Roman Church Concerning the Day of keeping the Passover
- Rhodon
  - Fragments
- Theophilus, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine
  - From His Epistle on the Question of the Passover, Written in the Name of the Synod of Caesarea
- Unknown
  - The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs
190 - 199 AD
- Athenagoras of Athens
  - On the Resurrection of the Dead
- Clement of Alexandria
- Eyewitness Account
  - The Martyrdom of Ignatius of Antioch
- Irenaeus of Lyons
- Maximus, Bishop of Jerusalem
  - From the Book Concerning Matter, or in Defence of the Proposition that matter Is Created, and Is Not the Cause of Evil
- Pantaenus, the Alexandrian Philosopher
  - Fragments
- Tatian the Syrian
  - Address to the Greeks
  - Fragments
- Tertullian
- Theophilus of Antioch
- Unknown
  - Acts of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian about His Exile and Departure
  - Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus

200 - 299 AD

300 - 399 AD

400 - 499 AD

500 - 599 AD

600 - 699 AD

600 - 609 AD
- Gregory the Great

700 - 799 AD

700 - 709 AD
- John of Damascus
  - An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Books I-II
  - An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Books III-IV

800 - 899 AD

800 - 809 AD
- Unknown
  - The Apocalypse of the Virgin
850 - 859 AD
- Isidore Mercator

Sun22 December

Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent; O King of the Nations (O Rex Gentium)

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Today the Church celebrates the Fourth and final Sunday of Advent. "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "Behold,…

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