The Fathers of the Christian Church and the Fundamentals Faith of Christianity

Abstract

Despite the fact that the topic of the Fathers of the Christian Church (Patrologie) is one of the most important in the history of the Christian Church and Christian Theology, there have been no studies in Turkey regarding them. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the debates about dogma pertaining to theological and faith issues in Christianity, the Fathers of the Christian Church need to be examined in great detail. The doctrines of the greatest Fathers from the first eight centuries of Christianity have formed the basis for the Christian doctrines up to this day. These ingenious individuals, who have since gained the title of ‘The Fathers of the Christian Church,’ outlined a model for a sacred way of life based on the beliefs of Orthodox Christianity, and were later accepted by the Church. Church leaders, bishops, disciplinary and doctrinal authorities were all eligible for becoming Fathers of the Christian Church. To become a Father of the Christian Church, Paul’s criterion of ‘teaching the true faith’ was used as a basis, and as such, heretics and Gnostics did not qualify for such a title. These scholars, who have the honour of being considered the ‘Fathers of the Christian Church’, have, with their ideas, beliefs and ascetic values, guided Christians for many centuries since their lifetimes.