Orthodox Apologetics

Who are the Fathers?

The term "Church Fathers" refers to the great theologians, writers, mystics, and apologists of the Church throughout history and even today. This section will be focusing on those highly influential figures of the first five centuries of Christianity who are often called "Early Church Fathers." The Fathers of this early, formative period of the Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, combated frequent pernicious heresies, formulated and standardized theology and worship, and even gave us the Bible!

A special and greatly honored class of Church Fathers, called the "Apostolic Fathers," are those Fathers who lived in the first and second centuries. As the title of this class implies, many of the Apostolic Fathers were friends and disciples of Apostles. Some, such as St. Polycarp of Smyrna and St. Ignatius of Antioch, were appointed directly by Apostles to take over leadership of the Church after the passing of the Apostles. The writings of the Apostolic Fathers are our greatest source of information on the early Christians' beliefs and practices.


Meet the Fathers...

St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca. AD 30 - 107)
St. Justin the Philosopher (ca. AD 100 - 165)


What did the Fathers say about...

Abortion

The Eucharist

• Closed Communion
• The Eucharist as a Sacrifice
• The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

Free Will

• Free Will
• More on Free Will
• Foreknowledge, Part I
• Foreknowledge, Part II

Prayers to the Saints

Sola Scriptura

• Introduction
• The Didache (AD 60)
• Clement of Rome (AD 95)
• Ignatius of Antioch (AD 107)
• Papias of Hierapolis (AD 120)
• Polycarp of Smyrna (AD 110)
• Justin Martyr (AD 150)
• Melito of Sardis (AD 170)
• Irenaeus of Lyons (AD 180)
• Clement of Alexandria (AD 180-200)
• Tertullian of Carthage (AD 197-220)
• Hippolytus of Rome (AD 170-235)

The Virgin Mary as the New Eve