FATHER OF THE CHURCH • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Father of the Church

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/fˈɑðər əv ðə tʃərtʃ/ Listen

Father of the Church

noun

(Christianity) any of about 70 theologians in the period from the 2nd to the 7th century whose writing established and confirmed official church doctrine; in the Roman Catholic Church some were later declared saints and became Doctor of the Church; the best known Latin Church Fathers are Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Jerome; those who wrote in Greek include Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and John Chrysostom. Synonyms: Church Father, Father.

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Etymology of 'Father of the Church'

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"Father of the Church" Quotes from Famous Books

... churches and in many families besides those of our communion, prayers were offered for his recovery. And when at last it became known that he had indeed passed away from this life, it was felt that we had lost not only a venerable Father of the Church, but one whose name, familiar as a household word, was always associated with kindly loving thoughts and deeds—one who was deservedly welcome wherever he went, and whose influence was always towards peace and goodwill." The Rev. Mr. Montgomery, our present Dean of Edinburgh, whose words I ...

— Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character • Edward Bannerman Ramsay

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