Early Church Figures - Profiles
Biographies and other information on leading figures in the early church, inclduding church fathers as well as those labeled as heretics.
Clement of Alexandria
Clement of Alexandria was an ante-Nicene Christian theologian.
Clement of Alexandria was an ante-Nicene Christian theologian.
Athanasius
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, spent many years in exile over his position on the Arian controversy.
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, spent many years in exile over his position on the Arian controversy.
Chrysostom
Bishop of Antioch and of Constantinople, John of the golden mouth is one of the four great Eastern doctors of the ancient Church.
Bishop of Antioch and of Constantinople, John of the golden mouth is one of the four great Eastern doctors of the ancient Church.
Clement of Alexandria
Resources on the life and writing of theologian and Christian Apologist Clement of Alexandria.
Resources on the life and writing of theologian and Christian Apologist Clement of Alexandria.
Constantine
Resources on the Roman emperor Constantine I (306 - 337 A.D.).
Resources on the Roman emperor Constantine I (306 - 337 A.D.).
Egeria
Egeria was probably a member of a religious order who made a leisurely pilgrimage to the Holy Land and wrote down her observations in a book called Itinerarium Egeriae, or the Travels, somewhere between the fourth and seventh centuries.
Egeria was probably a member of a religious order who made a leisurely pilgrimage to the Holy Land and wrote down her observations in a book called Itinerarium Egeriae, or the Travels, somewhere between the fourth and seventh centuries.
Eusebius
Eusebius of Nicodamia and Eusebius of Caesarea were both involved in the Arian controversy and the Nicean Creed.
Eusebius of Nicodamia and Eusebius of Caesarea were both involved in the Arian controversy and the Nicean Creed.
Helena
Helena was the mother of the Emperor Constantine, who, upon her conversion to Chrsitianity, went to the Holy Land where she is credited by some with having discovered the True Cross.
Helena was the mother of the Emperor Constantine, who, upon her conversion to Chrsitianity, went to the Holy Land where she is credited by some with having discovered the True Cross.
Isidore of Seville.
Isidore was a medieval scholar.
Isidore was a medieval scholar.
Jesus (historical)
Links on the biography and historicity of Jesus of Nazareth.
Links on the biography and historicity of Jesus of Nazareth.
Marcion
Tertullian wrote against the heretic Marcion who believed the Old Testament and the New Testament portrayed different gods.
Tertullian wrote against the heretic Marcion who believed the Old Testament and the New Testament portrayed different gods.
Mary Magdalene
According to Elizabeth Moltmann-Wendel in The Women Around Jesus, the confusion between Mary Magdalen and the unnamed prostitute comes from proximity -- the story of Mary Magdalen came immediately after: The earlier passage (the one with with a female sinner) is Luke 7: 36-50.
According to Elizabeth Moltmann-Wendel in The Women Around Jesus, the confusion between Mary Magdalen and the unnamed prostitute comes from proximity -- the story of Mary Magdalen came immediately after: The earlier passage (the one with with a female sinner) is Luke 7: 36-50.
Montanus
Information on Montanus, an early Christian heretic.
Information on Montanus, an early Christian heretic.
Origen
Born in Egypt to Christian parents in about 185 (died 253/254), he headed the catechetical school in Alexandria from 203 until he fled to Caesarea in Palestine. After his death he was accused of several heresies, including making the Son inferior to the Father.
Born in Egypt to Christian parents in about 185 (died 253/254), he headed the catechetical school in Alexandria from 203 until he fled to Caesarea in Palestine. After his death he was accused of several heresies, including making the Son inferior to the Father.
Pelagius
In the 380s Pelagius came from Britain or Ireland to Rome, where he objected to the teaching of Augustine about original sin. The beliefs of Pelagius were declared heresies by Jerome as well as Augustine.
In the 380s Pelagius came from Britain or Ireland to Rome, where he objected to the teaching of Augustine about original sin. The beliefs of Pelagius were declared heresies by Jerome as well as Augustine.
Prudentius
Prudentius was a Christian poet from Northern Spain.
Prudentius was a Christian poet from Northern Spain.
St. Ambrose
The patron saint of learning, Ambrose lived from about A.D. 340-397. He was Bishop of Milan from 374 until his death and was active in court politics and against Arianism. In 386, he baptized St. Augustine.
The patron saint of learning, Ambrose lived from about A.D. 340-397. He was Bishop of Milan from 374 until his death and was active in court politics and against Arianism. In 386, he baptized St. Augustine.
St. Anthony
St. Anthony, called the Father of Monasticism, was born about A.D. 251 in Egypt, and spent much of his adult life as a desert hermit (eremite).
St. Anthony, called the Father of Monasticism, was born about A.D. 251 in Egypt, and spent much of his adult life as a desert hermit (eremite).
St. Augustine of Hippo
St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo known for his conversion in middle age and his pursuit of heretics.
St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo known for his conversion in middle age and his pursuit of heretics.
St. Irenaeus
St. Irenaeus was a theologian and bishop in what is now Lyons, France.
St. Irenaeus was a theologian and bishop in what is now Lyons, France.
St. Jerome
St. Jerome is known as the scholar who created the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible.
St. Jerome is known as the scholar who created the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible.
St. Patrick
Born in Britain, the patron saint of Ireland first lived in the Emerald Isle as a slave. A vision led Patrick to freedom and another led him back again to convert the heathen.
Born in Britain, the patron saint of Ireland first lived in the Emerald Isle as a slave. A vision led Patrick to freedom and another led him back again to convert the heathen.
St. Paul
Paul, a Pharisee and tent-maker, was on his way to Damascus to continue his mission of stamping out converts to the new Jewish sect of Christians when he experienced a vision of Jesus, which he describes in Acts 9:1 – 9. From then on he became a missionary, spreading the message of Christianity.
Paul, a Pharisee and tent-maker, was on his way to Damascus to continue his mission of stamping out converts to the new Jewish sect of Christians when he experienced a vision of Jesus, which he describes in Acts 9:1 – 9. From then on he became a missionary, spreading the message of Christianity.
Tertullian
Net resources on Tertullian, the Church leader who became an adherent of Montanism, a heresy that reacted against the increasing worldliness of the church with other fanatical beliefs.
Net resources on Tertullian, the Church leader who became an adherent of Montanism, a heresy that reacted against the increasing worldliness of the church with other fanatical beliefs.
Tiridates III of Armenia
Even before the Emperor Constantine the Great, King Tiridates III (A.D. 238-314) of Armenia converted his country to Christianity.
Even before the Emperor Constantine the Great, King Tiridates III (A.D. 238-314) of Armenia converted his country to Christianity.