Church Fathers
Reading ancient Christian literature

All Christians should strive to become more familiar with their history, and especially with these ancient Christian writings. They are a theological and spiritual goldmine. If you have not already begun reading the writings of ancient Christians, I encourage you to read C.S. Lewis' classic introduction to Saint Athanasios' superb book On the Incarnation of the Word of God. Lewis' essay is also known as "On the Reading of Old Books."

When you first begin, you may wish to start with these links to the Fathers' writings online. I also recommend supplementing their writings with good histories of ancient Christianity, like J.N.D. Kelly's Early Christian Doctrines and the historical works of Jaroslav Pelikan and Henry Chadwick, and other good books that put these ancient writings in context, like Roch Kereszty's Jesus Christ: Fundamentals of Christology, Richard Norris' The Christological Controversy, William Rusch's The Trinitarian Controversy, and C. Fitzsimons Allison's The Cruelty of Heresy. Johannes Quasten's academic Patrology series is excellent, but there are more useful books being written especially for beginners, like Michael Aquilina's The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Fathers and Christopher Hall's Learning Theology with the Church Fathers. Dedicated readers should definitely get a copy of John Henry Newman's Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine.

Do not be intimidated by ancient Christian writings. The ancient Church Fathers are usually much easier to read than modern theological authors. Read them for yourself!

The following works are a good starting place for beginners...

• On the Incarnation of the Word of God by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria
• Epistle to the Corinthians by Saint Clement of Rome
• The Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)
• Epistle to the Ephesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to the Magnesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to the Trallians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to the Romans by Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to the Philadelphians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to the Smyrnaeans by Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to Saint Polycarp by Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• The Martyrdom of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to the Philippians by Saint Polycarp
• The Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp
• Epistle of Barnabas by Saint Barnabas
• First Apology by Saint Justin Martyr
• Catechetical Lectures by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
• Exposition of the Orthodox Faith by Saint John of Damascus
• History of the Church (Ecclesiastical History) by Eusebius of Caesarea
• On the Divine Images by Saint John of Damascus
• Hymns on the Nativity by Saint Ephraim of Syria
• Confessions by Saint Augustine of Hippo

The pages linked below are owned by Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Christians, as well as other people whose religious affiliations are not obvious. Inclusion of a link does not imply that I agree with the opinions of the owner of another site.

• Christian Classics Ethereal Library
• New Advent Fathers Library
• Saint Pachomius Library
• Tertullian.org Patristic Library
• Early Christian Writings.com (site includes heretical, Gnostic writings)
• Crosswalk Fathers Library: Ante-Nicene, Nicene, Post-Nicene
• Institute for Christian Leadership Patristic Library
• Ecole Initiative Encyclopedia of Early Church History

There are many medieval and early modern Christian classics available online too. Here are a few:

• Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy
• Saint Anselm of Canterbury's Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man)
• Saint Anselm of Canterbury's Monologium
• Saint Anselm of Canterbury's Proslogium
• Gaunilo's On Behalf of the Fool & Saint Anselm's Reply
• Saint Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica
• Saint Thomas Aquinas' Summa Contra Gentiles
• The Cloud of Unknowing (Anonymous)
• Thomas a Kempis' Imitation of Christ
• Dom Lorenzo Scupoli's Spiritual Combat (sorry for the irritating midi music)
• Saint Francis De Sales' Introduction to the Devout Life
• Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle

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