Church Fathers and Doctors

Ambrose of Milan

Bishop of Milan, opposed Arianism, idea of original sin

Athanasius

Bishop of Alexandria, against Arianism, wrote on Holy Spirit and Incarnation, one of the four Great Greek Fathers

Augustine of Hippo

Bishop of Hippo, wrote “Confessions” and “City of God”

Gregory the Great

Bishop of Rome, founded monasteries, known for liturgical renewal and Gregorian chant

Ignatius of Antioch

Bishop of Antioch, opposed Docetism, wrote about role of Bishop, desired martyrdom

Irenaeus

Bishop of Lyons, Tertullian’s teacher, wrote against Gnosticism

Justin Martyr

early Apologist, opened a Christian school in Rome, was beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods

Leo the Great (Leo I)

opposed Pelagianism, promoted supremacy of the Pope

Polycarp

Bishop of Smyrna, opposed Marcionites, links Apostolic Age with the Apostolic Fathers

John Chrysostom

one of the four Great Greek Fathers, nicknamed the "Golden Mouth"

Tertullian

the first Latin Father, he became a Montanist, he defined the Holy Trinity

Catherine of Siena

the second woman to become a Doctor of the Church, a Dominican nun who is the patron saint of Italy

Hildegard of Bingen

Benedictine nun who was a mystic who had prophetic visions

Teresa of Avila

had a Jewish Father, lived in Spain and reformed the Carmelite Religious Order

Terese of Lisieux

nicknamed the "Little Flower", became a nun at the age of 15