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Fathers of the Church

http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/chfath.htm

Church Fathers were the closest to the Apostles and whatever we have, came to us through them. Toqualify as a Church Father, four conditions had to have been met.

1. He had to have lived before the year 800.The last Father in the East was St. Damascene 674-749, and of the West was, St. Bede the Venerable672-735.2. He had to have followed the orthodox teaching, faithful to the true doctrines of the Church.3. He had to have Sanctity. All major Fathers and most minor Fathers were canonized Saints, and livedvirtuous lives.4. He had to have the sanction of the Church, a general acceptance.

They are divided into 2 groups, 39 Latin and 49 Greek Fathers. Some of the most prominent ones are:

Latin Fathers, Western:

St. Irenaeus of Lyons (d 202), Bishop.St. Cyprian (d 258), Bishop.

St. Damasus I (d 384),St. Ambrose of Milan (d 397), Bishop of Milan.St. Jerome (d 420), priest.St. Augustine (d 430), Bishop of Hippo.St. Peter Chrysologus (d 450), Archbishop of Ravenna.St. Leo the Great (d 461), Pope.St. Fulgentius (d 533), Bishop of Ruspe.St. Benedict (d 546), father of Western monasticism.St. Gregory the Great (d 604), Pope.St. Isadore (d 636), Archbishop of Seville.

St. Bede the Venerable (d 735), Doctor, last Father of Western Church.

Greek Fathers, Eastern... * means an Apostolic Father.

St. Clement of Rome * (d 97), PopeSt. Ignatius of Antioch * (d 107), Bishop of Antioch.

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