Who Were the Early Church Fathers and Why They Matter

The Early Church is the Christian Church in its first centuries, starting with the apostles and lasting through the first several generations of their successors. It includes the time of the New Testament, the lives of the Church Fathers, and the early councils that helped define key doctrines.

This period begins with the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (Acts 2) and includes the time of persecution under the Roman Empire, the defense of the faith by the Church Fathers, and the development of Christian worship, leadership, and doctrine.

The Early Church believed in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the authority of bishops, the necessity of baptism, and the unity of the Church founded by Christ. It is marked by faithfulness, suffering, and deep love for the truth.