Visual Timeline

Chronological View

Explore the Church Fathers in chronological order from 0 AD to 800 AD. Hover over any point to see details.

The Apostolic Fathers
The Ante-Nicene Fathers
The Golden Age: Greek (Eastern) Fathers
The Golden Age: Latin (Western) Fathers
The Syriac & Desert Fathers
0 AD
100 AD
200 AD
300 AD
400 AD
500 AD
600 AD
700 AD
800 AD

Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

c. Late 5th – Early 6th Century AD
Syria or Constantinople (Unknown)

A mysterious mystical theologian who wrote under the name of Paul's convert in Athens. His works fused Neoplatonism with Christianity, deeply influencing medieval mysticism and Gothic art.

Clement of Rome

c. 35 – 99 AD
Rome, Italy

Fourth Bishop of Rome. Wrote 1 Clement to the Corinthians to settle a rebellion against clergy.

Ignatius of Antioch

c. 35 – 108 AD
Antioch, Syria (modern Antakya)

Bishop arrested and transported to Rome for execution. Wrote seven letters on the way emphasizing the authority of the bishop.

Papias of Hierapolis

c. 60 – 130 AD
Hierapolis, Turkey

Collector of oral traditions who interviewed those who knew the Apostles.

Polycarp of Smyrna

c. 69 – 155 AD
Smyrna, Turkey (modern Izmir)

Disciple of the Apostle John and teacher of Irenaeus. A living link between the Apostles and the 2nd century.

Justin Martyr

c. 100 – 165 AD
Rome (born in Samaria)

A philosopher-convert who argued that Christianity was the "True Philosophy."

Irenaeus of Lyons

c. 130 – 202 AD
Lyons, France (born in Smyrna)

Student of Polycarp who moved to Gaul. His work Against Heresies is the definitive attack on Gnosticism.

Clement of Alexandria

c. 150 – 215 AD
Alexandria, Egypt

Head of the Catechetical School. He used Greek philosophy (Plato) to explain Christian doctrine to intellectuals.

Tertullian

c. 155 – 240 AD
Carthage, Tunisia

The "Father of Latin Theology." A fiery lawyer who coined the theological terms Western Christianity uses today.

Hippolytus of Rome

c. 170 – 235 AD
Rome, Italy

A rigorist theologian who briefly became an "Anti-Pope" because he felt the Church was too lenient on sinners.

Origen of Alexandria

c. 184 – 253 AD
Alexandria, Egypt

A genius scholar and prolific writer who pioneered allegorical interpretation of the Bible.

Cyprian of Carthage

c. 200 – 258 AD
Carthage, Tunisia

A wealthy lawyer turned bishop who managed the church during the Decian persecution and a massive plague.

Anthony the Great

251 – 356 AD
Egyptian Desert

"Father of Monks." Abandoned society to live in the desert, inspiring the monastic movement.

Eusebius of Caesarea

c. 260 – 339 AD
Caesarea, Palestine

The "Father of Church History." Wrote Ecclesiastical History, preserving the only record of the first 300 years of the church.

Pachomius the Great

c. 292 – 348 AD
Thebes, Egypt

The founder of "Cenobitic" (communal) monasticism. While Anthony lived alone, Pachomius organized monks into walled communities with strict schedules for work, prayer, and meals.

Athanasius

c. 296 – 373 AD
Alexandria, Egypt

The "Hero of Nicaea." Spent his entire life fighting Arianism (the belief Jesus was created). Exiled five times.

Ephrem the Syrian

306 – 373 AD
Nisibis / Edessa, Turkey

"Harp of the Spirit." A deacon who wrote theology in complex, symbolic poetry rather than prose.

Hilary of Poitiers

c. 310 – 367 AD
Poitiers, France

"The Athanasius of the West." A gentle bishop who led the fight against Arianism in the Latin-speaking world.

Cyril of Jerusalem

c. 313 – 386 AD
Jerusalem

Bishop famous for his Catechetical Lectures, teaching new converts the faith and liturgy.

Gregory of Nazianzus

329 – 390 AD
Constantinople / Nazianzus, Turkey

"The Theologian." A poet and reluctant bishop who solidified the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Basil the Great

330 – 379 AD
Caesarea, Turkey

Theologian and administrator who wrote the rules for Eastern monasticism.

Gregory of Nyssa

335 – 395 AD
Nyssa, Turkey

Basil's younger brother; a mystic philosopher focused on the infinite progress of the soul.

Ambrose of Milan

340 – 397 AD
Milan, Italy

A governor who became bishop. He asserted the church's independence from the state, famously forcing Emperor Theodosius to repent publicly.

John Chrysostom

347 – 407 AD
Antioch -> Constantinople

"Golden Mouth." The greatest preacher of the East. Exiled for criticizing the wealth and vanity of the imperial court.

Jerome

347 – 420 AD
Rome -> Bethlehem

A brilliant linguist and hermit. He translated the Bible into the Latin Vulgate, the standard Bible for 1,000 years.

Augustine of Hippo

354 – 430 AD
Hippo (modern Annaba, Algeria)

The most influential theologian in Western history. Defined the doctrines of Original Sin, Grace, and Predestination.

John Cassian

c. 360 – 435 AD
Marseilles, France (born in Scythia)

The "Bridge-Builder." He lived with the Egyptian monks for years before moving to France, bringing their wisdom to the West. His Institutes taught the West how to organize monasteries.

Cyril of Alexandria

376 – 444 AD
Alexandria, Egypt

The "Seal of the Fathers." Defended the title Theotokos (Mother of God) for Mary to protect the divinity of Jesus.

Leo the Great

c. 400 – 461 AD
Rome, Italy

A powerful Pope who consolidated papal authority. His Tome of Leo defined the two natures of Christ for the Council of Chalcedon.

Vincent of Lérins

died c. 445 AD
Lérins Abbey (Island off the French Riviera)

A monk who sought a scientific method to distinguish truth from heresy. He famously defined Orthodoxy as "that which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all."

Boethius

c. 477 – 524 AD
Rome / Ravenna

A Christian philosopher and statesman bridging the Roman and Medieval worlds.

Benedict of Nursia

c. 480 – 547 AD
Monte Cassino, Italy

"Father of Western Monasticism." Wrote The Rule of St. Benedict, balancing prayer and work (ora et labora).

Gregory the Great

540 – 604 AD
Rome, Italy

The first monk to become Pope. He organized the defense of Rome and sent missionaries to England.

Isidore of Seville

560 – 636 AD
Seville, Spain

The last Latin Father. A scholar who compiled the Etymologies, an encyclopedia of all known knowledge.

Maximus the Confessor

c. 580 – 662 AD
Constantinople

A monk who stood alone against the Emperor to defend the human will of Christ (Dyothelitism).

Isaac of Nineveh

c. 613 – 700 AD
Nineveh, Iraq

A hermit and bishop known for his psychological depth and writings on God's limitless mercy.

John of Damascus

675 – 749 AD
Damascus, Syria

The last Greek Father. Defended the use of Icons during the Iconoclast controversy.

Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

c. Late 5th – Early 6th Century AD

Clement of Rome

c. 35 – 99 AD

Ignatius of Antioch

c. 35 – 108 AD

Papias of Hierapolis

c. 60 – 130 AD

Polycarp of Smyrna

c. 69 – 155 AD

Justin Martyr

c. 100 – 165 AD

Irenaeus of Lyons

c. 130 – 202 AD

Clement of Alexandria

c. 150 – 215 AD

Tertullian

c. 155 – 240 AD

Hippolytus of Rome

c. 170 – 235 AD

Origen of Alexandria

c. 184 – 253 AD

Cyprian of Carthage

c. 200 – 258 AD

Anthony the Great

251 – 356 AD

Eusebius of Caesarea

c. 260 – 339 AD

Pachomius the Great

c. 292 – 348 AD

Athanasius

c. 296 – 373 AD

Ephrem the Syrian

306 – 373 AD

Hilary of Poitiers

c. 310 – 367 AD

Cyril of Jerusalem

c. 313 – 386 AD

Gregory of Nazianzus

329 – 390 AD

Basil the Great

330 – 379 AD

Gregory of Nyssa

335 – 395 AD

Ambrose of Milan

340 – 397 AD

John Chrysostom

347 – 407 AD

Jerome

347 – 420 AD

Augustine of Hippo

354 – 430 AD

John Cassian

c. 360 – 435 AD

Cyril of Alexandria

376 – 444 AD

Leo the Great

c. 400 – 461 AD

Vincent of Lérins

died c. 445 AD

Boethius

c. 477 – 524 AD

Benedict of Nursia

c. 480 – 547 AD

Gregory the Great

540 – 604 AD

Isidore of Seville

560 – 636 AD

Maximus the Confessor

c. 580 – 662 AD

Isaac of Nineveh

c. 613 – 700 AD

John of Damascus

675 – 749 AD

37 Church Fathers • 0 AD – 800 AD