patristic literature, Christian writings of the first few centuries. They are chiefly in Greek and Latin; there is analogous writing in Syriac and in Armenian. The first period of patristic literature (1st–2d cent.) includes the works of St. Clement I Clement I, Saint, or Clement of Rome (klĕm`ənt), d. A.D. 97?, pope (A.D. 88?–A.D.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Ignatius of Antioch Ignatius of Antioch, Saint (ĭgnā`shəs, ăn`tēŏk), d. c.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Polycarp Polycarp, Saint (pŏl`ĭkärp), c.A.D. 70–A.D. 156?, Greek bishop of Smyrna, Father of the Church. He was a disciple of St.
..... Click the link for more information. , and Papias Papias (pā`pēəs), fl. A.D. 130, early Christian theologian said to have been bishop of Hieropolis and a friend of St. Polycarp .
..... Click the link for more information. , the writing known as the Shepherd of Hermas (see Hermas, Shepherd of Hermas, Shepherd of (her`məs), Christian apocalyptic work, composed in Rome c.A.D. 139–A.D. 155.
..... Click the link for more information. ), the Didache Didache (dĭd`əkē) [Gr.,=teaching], early Christian work written in Greek, called also The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.
..... Click the link for more information. , and the first Christian Pseudepigrapha Pseudepigrapha (s

'dĭpĭ`grəfə) [Gr.
..... Click the link for more information. . The writers of the 3d cent., often called the ante-Nicene Fathers, are principally St. Justin Martyr Justin Martyr, Saint, c.A.D. 100–c.A.D. 165, Christian apologist, called also Justin the Philosopher. Born in Samaria of pagan parents, he studied philosophy, and after his conversion in Ephesus to Christianity at about the age of 38, he went from place to
..... Click the link for more information. , Clement of Alexandria Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens), d. c.215, Greek theologian. Born in Athens, he traveled widely and was converted to Christianity. He studied and taught at the catechetical school in Alexandria until the persecution of 202. Origen was his pupil there.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Irenaeus Irenaeus, Saint (īrĭnē`əs), c.125–c.202, Greek theologian, bishop of Lyons, and one of the Fathers of the Church .
..... Click the link for more information. , Origen Origen (ôr`ĭjĭn), 185?–254?, Christian philosopher and scholar.
..... Click the link for more information. , Tertullian Tertullian (Quintus Septimus Florens Tertullianus) (tûrtŭl`yən), c.160–c.
..... Click the link for more information. , and St. Cyprian Cyprian, Saint (sĭp`rēən), 200?–258, Father of the Church, bishop of Carthage (c.
..... Click the link for more information. . The last two of these are the earliest Fathers to write in Latin. As Christianity established itself, the interest shifted from apologetics to the new theological questions and to sermons and exegesis of Scripture. In the 4th and 5th cent. the number of writers increased greatly. The chief writers in Greek were Eusebius of Caesarea Eusebius of Caesarea (y
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Gregory Nazianzen Gregory Nazianzen, Saint (nāzēăn`zĭn), c.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Gregory of Nyssa Gregory of Nyssa, Saint (nĭs`ə), d. 394?, Cappadocian theologian; brother of St.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Basil the Great Basil the Great, Saint (bă`zĭl, bā`–), c.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. John Chrysostom John Chrysostom, Saint (krĭs`əstəm, krĭsŏs`–) [Gr.,=golden-mouth], c.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Cyril (of Jerusalem), St. Cyril Cyril, Saint (Saint Cyril of Alexandria) (sĭr`əl), d. A.D.
..... Click the link for more information. (of Alexandria), and St. Athanasius Athanasius, Saint (ăthənā`zhəs), c.
..... Click the link for more information. . Among the Latin Fathers were St. Hilary of Poitiers Hilary of Poitiers, Saint (hĭl`ərē, poitērz`, poi`tyā), c.315–367?, bishop of Poitiers from c.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Ambrose Ambrose, Saint (ăm`brōz), 340?–397, bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church, b. Trier, of Christian parents.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Augustine Augustine, Saint (ô`gəstēn, –tĭn; ôgŭs`tĭn), Lat.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Jerome Jerome, Saint (jərōm`, jĕr`əm), c.347–420?, Christian scholar, Father of the Church, Doctor of the Church.
..... Click the link for more information. (who set a standard for later Latin in the Vulgate), Cassian Cassian, John (kăsh`ən)
..... Click the link for more information. , Salvian Salvian (săl`vēən), fl. 5th cent., Christian writer of Gaul. His Latin name was Salvianus.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Hilary of Arles Hilary of Arles, Saint (hĭl`ərē, ärl), d. 449, Gallo-Roman churchman.
..... Click the link for more information. , St. Caesarius of Arles, and St. Gregory of Tours Gregory of Tours, Saint, 538–94, French historian, bishop of Tours (from 573), b. Clermont-Ferrand, of a prominent family. He had a distinguished and successful career as bishop.
..... Click the link for more information. . The list in the West is closed conventionally with St. Gregory I Gregory I, Saint (Saint Gregory the Great), c.540–604, pope (590–604), a Roman; successor of Pelagius II. A Doctor of the Church, he was distinguished for his spiritual and temporal leadership. His feast is celebrated on Mar. 12.
..... Click the link for more information. , although St. Bernard of Clairvaux is often called the last of the Fathers. The canon of Greek Fathers is closed with St. John of Damascus John of Damascus, Saint, or Saint John Damascene (dăm`əsēn), c.675–c.
..... Click the link for more information. . There is a monumental collection of the Fathers (to Innocent III in the West and to the fall of Constantinople in the East) by Jacques Paul Migne Migne, Jacques Paul (zhäk pôl mē`nyə)
..... Click the link for more information. ; the Greek texts are accompanied by Latin translations. There are several collections of the Fathers in English, including new editions recently undertaken, and innumerable individual translations.

patristic literature

Body of literature that comprises those works (excluding the New Testament) written by Christians before the 8th century. It refers to the works of the Church Fathers. Most patristic literature is in Greek or Latin, but much survives in Syriac and other Middle Eastern languages. The works of the Apostolic Fathers contain the earliest patristic literature. By the mid-2nd century, Christians wrote to justify their faith to the Roman government and to refute Gnosticism. In the 4th and 5th centuries, Augustine of Hippo and others laid the foundation for much of medieval and modern Christian thought. Significant patristic authors include Justin Martyr, Origen, Tertullian, Eusebius of Caesarea, Athanasius, Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Ambrose, Ephraem Syrus (306?–373), St. Jerome, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 375–444), St. Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662), and Pope Gregory I.