While not an exhaustive list, this list contains the important, primarily early Church Fathers. There are a number of Desert Fathers missing, for example. Please comment below with any figures that have been left off this list.
CQBO finds that the following list of historical figures is very valuable to commit to memory, especially when preparing for Catholic quiz bowl tournaments.
| Name | Years of Life | Religious Order | Notable Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Ignatius of Antioch | c. 35–c. 107 | None (Bishop) | Martyr; emphasized Church unity and hierarchy; coined "Catholic" |
| St. Polycarp of Smyrna | c. 69–c. 155 | None (Bishop) | Martyr; disciple of John the Apostle |
| St. Clement of Rome | fl. c. 96 | None (Pope) | Wrote epistles; early papal authority |
| St. Justin Martyr | c. 100–c. 165 | None (Layman/Philosopher) | Early apologist; wrote First Apology and Dialogue with Trypho |
| St. Irenaeus of Lyons | c. 130–c. 202 | None (Bishop) | Wrote Against Heresies; Apostolic Father |
| Tertullian | c. 155–c. 240 | None (Layman) | Coined Trinitas; early Latin theology |
| St. Hippolytus of Rome | c. 170–235 | None (Priest) | Apostolic Tradition; early liturgy |
| St. Melito of Sardis | d. c. 180 | None (Bishop) | Early paschal theology |
| Origen | c. 184–c. 253 | None (Layman) | Biblical scholar; allegorical interpretation |
| St. Cyprian of Carthage | d. 258 | None (Bishop) | Unity of the Church; martyr |
| St. Eusebius of Caesarea | c. 260–c. 340 | None (Bishop) | Church historian; supporter of Constantine |
| St. Athanasius of Alexandria | c. 296–373 | None (Bishop) | Defended Nicene faith; wrote On the Incarnation |
| St. Ephrem the Syrian | c. 306–373 | None (Deacon) | Theologian and hymnographer of the East |
| St. Hilary of Poitiers | c. 310–367 | None (Bishop) | Latin defender of Nicene faith |
| St. Methodius of Olympus | d. 311 | None (Bishop) | Anti-Origenist theology |
| St. Cyril of Jerusalem | c. 313–386 | None (Bishop) | Catechetical lectures; defense of Nicene Creed |
| St. Basil the Great | c. 329–379 | Monastic Founder | Father of Eastern monasticism; Cappadocian Father |
| St. Gregory of Nazianzus | c. 329–390 | None (Bishop) | Cappadocian Father; theologian of the Trinity |
| St. Gregory of Elvira | c. 330–392 | None (Bishop) | Anti-Arian theologian in Spain |
| St. Gregory of Nyssa | c. 335–c. 395 | None (Bishop) | Mystical theology; Cappadocian Father |
| St. Ambrose of Milan | c. 340–397 | None (Bishop) | Defended Church independence from the state; converted Augustine |
| St. Jerome | c. 347–420 | None (Monk) | Translated the Bible into Latin (Vulgate) |
| St. John Chrysostom | c. 349–407 | None (Bishop) | Golden-mouthed preacher; liturgical reformer |
| St. Augustine of Hippo | 354–430 | None (Bishop) | Wrote Confessions and City of God; doctrine of grace |
| St. Paulinus of Nola | c. 354–431 | Monk/Bishop | Christian poet and ascetic |
| Pope St. Damasus I | r. 366–384 | None (Pope) | Commissioned Jerome’s Vulgate |
| St. Cyril of Alexandria | c. 376–444 | None (Bishop) | Defended Mary as Theotokos at Ephesus |
| St. Peter Chrysologus | c. 380–c. 450 | None (Bishop) | Famous for concise homilies |
| St. Patrick | c. 385–461 | None (Bishop) | Evangelizer of Ireland |
| St. Prosper of Aquitaine | c. 390–455 | Layman | Defended Augustine on grace |
| Pope St. Leo the Great | c. 400–461 | None (Pope) | Defined Christ's two natures; Tome of Leo |
| St. Vincent of Lérins | d. c. 445 | Monk | Commonitorium: development of doctrine |
| St. Fulgentius of Ruspe | c. 462–527 | Monk | Augustinian theology in Africa |
| St. Caesarius of Arles | c. 470–542 | Monk | Popular preacher and synodal organizer |
| St. Gennadius of Constantinople | d. 471 | None (Patriarch) | Balanced Christological theology |
| Pope St. Gregory the Great | c. 540–604 | Benedictine | Papal reformer; Gregorian chant |
| St. Isidore of Seville | c. 560–636 | None (Bishop) | Compiled encyclopedic Etymologiae |
| St. Maximus the Confessor | c. 580–662 | Monk | Defender of Christ’s two wills |
| St. Bede the Venerable | c. 673–735 | Benedictine | Ecclesiastical historian of England |
| St. John of Damascus | c. 675–749 | Monk | Defender of icons; wrote Fount of Knowledge |
| St. Peter Damian | 1007–1072 | Benedictine | Reformer and Doctor of the Church |
| St. Anselm of Canterbury | 1033–1109 | Benedictine | Ontological argument; faith seeking understanding |
| St. Bernard of Clairvaux | 1090–1153 | Cistercian | Marian devotion; preacher of Second Crusade |
| St. Albert the Great | c. 1200–1280 | Dominican | Universal doctor; teacher of Aquinas |
| St. Bonaventure | c. 1217–1274 | Franciscan | Mystical theology; Scholastic synthesis |
| St. Thomas Aquinas | 1225–1274 | Dominican | Summa Theologiae; harmonized reason and faith |
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