father of the church

The Fathers of the Church are the officially recognized early saints of the Catholic Church who helped shape theology and faith in the first age of the Church. They are often classified by period (e.g. Ante-Nicene and Post-Nicene) or by region, culture, and language (e.g. Eastern and Western, or Latin, Greek, and Oriental).

Some of the most important Greek fathers are:

• Justin
• Irenaeus
• Clement of Alexandria
• Origen
• Eusebius of Caesarea
• Athanasius (of the Athanasian Creed)
• Basil the Great
• Gregory of Nazianzus or Gregory the Theologian
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Synesius of Cyrene
• John Chrysostom (often quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church).
• Cyril of Alexandria

Note: All though all of these Greek fathers were very influential in the early church, some were declared heretics (or at least some of their writings were condemned) by the Catholic Church and/or Orthodox Churches. (Thanks Byzantine)

Some of the most important Latin fathers are:

• Tertullian
• Cyprian
• Lactantius
• Ambrose
• Jerome (of Vulgate fame)
• Augustine (wrote The City of God, On Christian Doctrine, The Confessions of St. Augustine)
• Boethius
• Pope Gregory I (wrote Morals on Job)