For the first two centuries, most of these men were bishops, although in later years certain priests and deacons were also recognized as Fathers. The Fathers of the Church are so called because of their leadership in the early Church, especially in defending, expounding, and developing Catholic doctrines. 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. Those who wrote in Greek are called the Greek (Church) Fathers.

The word Father is used in the New Testament to mean a teacher of spiritual things, by whose means the soul of man is born again into the likeness of Christ: "For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers.

Alternative Title: Father of the Church Church Father, any of the great bishops and other eminent Christian teachers of the early centuries whose writings remained as a court of appeal for their successors, especially in reference to controverted points of faith or practice. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you. Church Father Date of death Notes Adrian the monk of Antioch 5th Century (estimate) … Church Father, Father Christian religion, Christianity - a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior

In addition to the Apostolic Fathers, famous Greek Fathers include: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, the Cappadocian Fathers (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa), Peter of Sebaste, Maximus the Confessor, and John of Damascus.