Ultimate Church Fathers

(Updated January 20, 2025)

I’m frequently asked for recommendations of what to read in the writings of the Church Fathers, as well as which volumes are in my own library.

This “Ultimate Church Fathers Reading List” is intended to answer both questions, while also empowering others to find where they can read the works of the Fathers and other Ecclesiastical writers (i.e. ancient writers who are not recognized as Saints or Church Fathers). We’ll call it “Ultimate Church Fathers” for short.

Ultimate Church Fathers is thus intended to fulfill the following functions:

  1. Provide a comprehensive listing of books and resources in my own library containing the writings of the Fathers and other Ecclesiastical Writers that have been translated into English so others can find them more easily. They will cover roughly the first millennium of Church history.
  2. Provide a complete listing of the individual works of the Church Fathers and other Ecclesiastical Writers from the preceding books, as well as the status of whether I’ve read them or not (if I have not, they will be displayed in red font). Many don’t dig into the original sources nearly as much as they should, and this is part of my effort to provide “receipts” for my research into the Church Fathers.

Wherever possible, Ultimate Church Fathers will hyperlink to places where the physical books that are cited can be purchased, and/or to online versions of the books or particular works so they can be read for free.

Ultimate Church Fathers is still very much under construction. Not everything below is complete, or totally up to date. At the top, I will specify the date on which it has been most recently updated.

Outline of Ultimate Church Fathers

The outline for Ultimate Church Fathers is as follows:

  • First, we will list all the individual books included in this resource, beginning with those that are primary sources (the vast majority), followed by other books we recommend that are secondary sources. We will begin with the various multi-volume sets of books.
  • Second, we will list the names of all the Church Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers contained in this resource, including the years of their lifespan, and whether they were from the East or the West. In some cases, we will include pagan authors who will be identified as such.
  • Third and finally, we will list the individual works of the Church Fathers in one section, and Ecclesiastical Writers in another, listed by author in chronological order. If applicable, next to each work in a parenthetical will be included the number of books, or the number of chapters/sections it consists of to get a rough idea of its length. The number of sections, if applicable, will be provided as (§§X), where “X” is the number of sections.

SETS OF BOOKS

The Fathers of the Church (Catholic University of America)

Short citations: CUA, Vol. X (pages)

Popular Patristics (St. Vladimir’s Seminary)

Short citations: PPS, Vol. X (pages)

Ancient Christian Writers (The Newman Press)

Short citations: ACW, Vol. X (pages)

Ancient Christian Texts (IVP Academic)

Short citations listed after each book (since they are un-numbered volumes).

Translated Texts for Historians (University of Liverpool)

Short citations: TTH, Vol. X (pages)

Cistercian Studies (Cistercian Publications)

Short citations: CS, Vol. X (pages)

Writings from the Greco-Roman World (Society of Biblical Literature)

Short citations: WGRW, Vol. X (pages)

Holy Cross Orthodox Press

Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library (Harvard)

Short citations: DOML, Vol. X (pages)

Roman State & Christian Church (Wipf & Stock)

Short citations: Roman State & Christian Church, Vol. X (pages)

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (IVP)

Short citations: ACCS, Old Testament/New Testament, Vol. X (pages)

The Classics of Western Spirituality (Paulist)

Short citations listed after each book (since they are un-numbered volumes).

The Faith of the Early Fathers (Jurgens)

Short citations: Jurgens, Faith of the Fathers, Vol. X (pages)

The Library of Early Christianity (CUA)

Short citations: LEC, Vol. X (pages)

OTHER BOOKS

Short citations listed after each book (since they are un-numbered volumes not part of sets).

SECONDARY SOURCES

LIST OF AUTHORS

Church Fathers (Saints)

  • St. Barnabas (first century)
  • St. Pope Clement I (died 99) | WEST
  • St. Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 107) | EAST
  • St. Quadratus of Athens (died 129) | EAST
  • St. Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60-c. 130) | EAST
  • St. Polycarp (69-155) | EAST
  • St. Justin Martyr (c. 100-165) | EAST
  • St. Hegesippus (c. 110-c. 180) | EAST
  • St. Melito of Sardis (died c. 180) | EAST
  • St. Theophilus of Antioch (died c. 183-85) | EAST
  • St. Irenaeus of Lyon (c. 130-c. 202) | EAST/WEST
  • St. Athenagoras of Athens (c. 133-c. 190) | EAST
  • St. Apollinaris Claudius (late 100s) | EAST | St. Apollinaris Claudius (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pantaenus of Alexandria (died c. 200) | EAST | St. Pantaenus of Alexandria (Wikipedia)
  • St. Serapion of Antioch (died 211) | EAST | St. Serapion of Antioch (Wikipedia)
  • St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-c. 215) | EAST
  • St. Dionysius of Corinth (early to mid-100s) | EAST
  • St. Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170-c. 235) | WEST
  • St. Alexander of Cappadocia/Jerusalem (died 251) | EAST
  • St. Pope Cornelius (died 253) | WEST
  • St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 210-258) | WEST
  • St. Pontius of Carthage (early 200s-c. 262) | WEST
  • St. Dionysius of Alexandria (died 264) | EAST
  • St. Pope Dionysius of Rome (died 268) | WEST
  • St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (c. 213-270) | EAST
  • St. Anatolius of Laodicea (died 283) | EAST
  • St. Theonas of Alexandria (died 300) | EAST
  • St. Victorinus of Pettau/Petovium (died 303/304) | WEST | Victorinus of Pettau (Wikipedia)
  • St. Phileas of Thmuis (died c. 306) | EAST
  • St. Pamphilus of Caesarea (died 309) | EAST
  • St. Peter of Alexandria (died 311) | EAST
  • St. Methodius of Olympus (died c. 311) | EAST
  • St. Pierius of Alexandria (died c. 312) | EAST
  • St. Alexander of Alexandria (died 326/328) | EAST
  • St. Aphrahat the Persian (c. 280-c. 345) | EAST
  • St. Pope Julius I (280-352) | WEST | Pope Julius I (Wikipedia)
  • St. Macarius of Egypt/the Great/the Spirit Bearer (c. 300-c. 391) | EAST
  • St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310-c. 367) | WEST
  • St. Didymus the Blind (c. 313-398) | EAST
  • St. Serapion of Thmuis (died c. 360) | EAST
  • St. Athanasius (c. 296/98-373) | EAST
  • St. Optatus of Milevis (300s) | WEST
  • St. Paphnutius of Thebes (300s) | EAST | Paphnutius of Thebes (Wikipedia)
  • Desert Fathers (300s) | EAST
  • St. Pope Damasus I (c. 305-384) | WEST | Pope Damasus I (Wikipedia)
  • St. Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306-373) | EAST | Ephrem the Syrian (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pacian of Barcelona (c. 310-391) | WEST
  • St. Epiphanius of Cyprus/Salamis (c. 310/320-403) | EAST
  • St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386) | EAST
  • St. Gregory Nazianzus (c. 329-390) | EAST | Gregory of Nazianzus (Wikipedia)
  • St. Basil (330-379) | EAST
  • St. Pope Siricius I (334-399) | WEST
  • St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335-395) | EAST
  • St. Nicetas of Remesiana (c. 335-414) | WEST
  • St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397) | WEST
  • St. Jerome (c. 342/347-420) | EAST/WEST
  • St. Pope Anastasius I (died 401) | WEST
  • St. Chromatius of Aquileia (died c. 406/407) | WEST
  • St. John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) | EAST
  • St. Pope Innocent I (died 417) | WEST
  • St. Shenoute (c. 348-465) | EAST | Shenoute (Wikipedia)
  • St. Augustine (354-430) | WEST
  • St. Paulinus of Nola (c. 354-431) | WEST
  • St. John Cassian (c. 360-c. 435) | EAST
  • St. Possidius (died c. 437) | WEST | Possidius (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pope Celestine I (c. 376-432) | WEST | Pope Celestine I (Wikipedia)
  • St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376-444) | EAST
  • St. Valerian of Abbenza (377-457) | WEST
  • St. Peter Chrysologus (c. 380-c. 450) | WEST
  • St. Maximus of Turin (c. 380-c. 465) | WEST
  • St. Proclus of Constantinople (c. 390-446) | EAST
  • St. Prosper of Aquitaine (c. 390-c. 455) | WEST
  • St. Simeon Stylites (c. 390-459) | EAST | Simeon Stylites (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pope Leo the Great (c. 400-461) | WEST
  • St. Hilary of Arles (c. 403-c. 449) | WEST
  • St. Vincent of Lérins (died c. 445) | WEST
  • St. Patrick of Ireland (400s) | WEST
  • St. Mark the Monk/Eremita (400s) | EAST
  • St. Sechnall of Ireland (died c. 447/448) | WEST | Secundinus (Wikipedia)
  • St. Quodvultdeus of Carthage (died c. 450) | WEST
  • St. Isaiah the Solitary (died 491) | EAST | Isaiah the Solitary (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pope Gelasius I (died 496) | WEST
  • St. Pope Symmachus (died 514) | WEST | Pope Symmachus (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pope Hormisdas (c. 450-523) | WEST | Pope Hormisdas (Wikipedia)
  • St. Jacob of Serug (c. 451-521) | EAST
  • St. Ailbe (died 528) | WEST | Ailbe of Emly (Wikipedia)
  • St. Caesarius of Arles (c. 468/470-542) | WEST
  • St. Fulgentius of Ruspe (c. 472/467-527/533) | WEST | Fulgentius of Ruspe (Wikipedia)
  • St. Magnus Felix Ennodius (c. 473/74-521) | WEST
  • St. Benedict (480-547) | WEST | Benedict of Nursia (Wikipedia)
  • St. Romanos the Melodist (late 400s-after 555) | EAST
  • St. Dorotheus of Gaza (c. 505-c. 565) | EAST | Dorotheus of Gaza (Wikipedia)
  • St. Comghall (c. 510-520-597/602) | WEST | Comgall (Wikipedia)
  • St. Ciarán (c. 516-c. 549) | WEST | Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (Wikipedia)
  • St. Martin of Braga (c. 520-580) | WEST
  • St. Barsanuphius (died c. 545) | EAST
  • St. Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus (c. 530-c. 600/609) | WEST
  • St. Leander of Seville (c. 534-600/601) | WEST
  • St. Gregory of Tours (c. 538-594) | WEST
  • St. Pope Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) | WEST
  • St. Columban (543-615) | WEST | Columbanus (Wikipedia)
  • St. Modestus of Jerusalem (died 634) | EAST
  • St. Anastasius I of Antioch (c. 558/559-70-c. 596-98) | EAST
  • St. Isidore of Seville (c. 560-636) | WEST
  • St. Pope Agatho (c. 577-681) | WEST
  • St. John Climacus (c. 579-649) | EAST
  • St. Maximus the Confessor (c. 580-662) | EAST
  • St. Braulio of Saragossa/Zaragoza (585-651) | WEST
  • St. Carthage (500s) | WEST | Carthage the Elder (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pope Martin I (590 to 600-655) | WEST | Pope Martin I (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pope Leo II (c. 611-683) | WEST | Pope Leo II (Wikipedia)
  • St. Fructuosus of Braga (died 665) | WEST
  • St. Isaac of Nineveh/Isaac the Syrian (c. 613-c. 700) | EAST
  • St. Germanus of Constantinople (c. 634-733/40) | EAST
  • St. Julian of Toledo (642-90) | WEST
  • St. Anastasius of Sinai (died after 700) | EAST
  • St. Andrew of Crete/Jerusalem (c. 650-712/726/740) | EAST
  • St. Bede the Venerable (c. 672/73-735) | WEST
  • St. Pope Gregory III (died 741) | WEST | Pope Gregory III (Wikipedia)
  • St. John of Damascus (c. 675/76-749) | EAST
  • St. Boniface (c. 675-754) | WEST | Saint Boniface (Wikipedia)
  • St. Pope Zachary (679-752) | WEST | Pope Zachary (Wikipedia)
  • St. John of Old Lavra/of the Ancient Caves of Palestine (700s) | EAST
  • St. Benedict of Aniane (747-821) | WEST | Benedict of Aniane (Wikipedia)
  • St. Nicephorus I of Constantinople (c. 758-828) | EAST | Nikephoros I of Constantinople (Wikipedia)
  • St. Theodore the Studite (759-826) | EAST
  • St. Gregory of Narek (c. 945-951-c. 1001-1011 | EAST | Gregory of Narek (Wikipedia)
  • St. Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022) | EAST
  • St. Hildegard of Bingen (c. 1098-1179) | WEST | Hildegard of Bingen (Wikipedia)

Ecclesiastical Writers

WORKS OF THE CHURCH FATHERS

Apostolic Era Documents

St. Barnabas (first century)

St. Pope Clement I (died 99) | WEST

St. Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 107) | EAST

St. Quadratus of Athens (died 129) | EAST

St. Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60-c. 130) | EAST

St. Polycarp (69-155) | EAST

St. Justin Martyr (c. 100-165) | EAST

St. Hegesippus (c. 110-c. 180) | EAST

St. Melito of Sardis (died c. 180) | EAST

St. Theophilus of Antioch (died c. 183-85) | EAST

St. Irenaeus of Lyon (c. 130-c. 202) | EAST/WEST

St. Athenagoras of Athens (c. 133-c. 190) | EAST

St. Apollinaris Claudius (late 100s) | EAST

St. Pantaenus of Alexandria (died c. 200) | EAST

St. Serapion of Antioch (died 211) | EAST

St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-c. 215) | EAST

St. Dionysius of Corinth (early to mid-100s) | EAST

St. Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170-c. 235) | WEST

Doubtful Works

St. Alexander of Cappadocia/Jerusalem (died 251) | EAST

St. Pope Cornelius (died 253) | WEST

TBD

St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 210-258) | WEST

Treatises

Treatises (disputed)

Other Works

Letters

Numbers in parentheses are those used in the PPS series.

St. Pontius of Carthage (early 200s-c. 262) | WEST

St. Dionysius of Alexandria (died 264) | EAST

Letters

St. Pope Dionysius of Rome (died 268) | WEST

St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (c. 213-270) | EAST

St. Anatolius of Laodicea (died 283) | EAST

St. Theonas of Alexandria (died 300) | EAST

St. Victorinus of Pettau/Petovium (died 303/304) | WEST

St. Phileas of Thmuis (died c. 306) | EAST

St. Pamphilus of Caesarea (died 309) | EAST

St. Peter of Alexandria (died 311) | EAST

St. Methodius of Olympus (died c. 311) | EAST

St. Pierius of Alexandria (died c. 312) | EAST

St. Alexander of Alexandria (died 326/328) | EAST

Letters

St. Aphrahat the Persian (c. 280-c. 345) | EAST

St. Pope Julius I (280-352) | WEST

TBD

St. Macarius of Egypt/the Great/the Spirit Bearer (c. 300-c. 391) | EAST

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310-c. 367) | WEST

Homilies

St. Didymus the Blind (c. 313-398) | EAST

Biblical Commentaries

Lectures on the Psalms

St. Serapion of Thmuis (died c. 360) | EAST

St. Athanasius (c. 296/98-373) | EAST

Anti-Arian Works

Letters

St. Optatus of Milevis (300s) | WEST

Documents Related to the Donatist Controversy

St. Paphnutius of Thebes (300s) | EAST

Desert Fathers (300s) | EAST

St. Pope Damasus I (c. 305-384) | WEST

TBD

St. Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306-373) | EAST

Nisibene Hymns

Hymns on the Nativity

Hymns for Epiphany

Hymns on the Faith (including “The Pearl”)

Hymns on Paradise

Teaching Songs on the Holy Fast

Teaching Songs on the Crucifixion

Teaching Songs on the Resurrection

Teaching Songs on the Unleavened Bread

Thirty Hymns on Death, the Resurrection, and Eternal Life

  • On the Death of Children: Their Blessedness | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (25-26)
  • On the Death of Children: The Sorrow it Produces—the Sources of Consolation | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (27-28)
  • On the Death of Youth | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (28-29)
  • On the Death of a Spiritual Son | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (29-31)
  • On the Death of Persons in All Walks of Life | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (31-33)
  • On Death and the Resurrection | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (34-35)
  • On the Death of a Servant of God | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (36-38)
  • On the Death of a Bishop | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (38-40)
  • On the Death of a Priestmonk | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (40-41)
  • A Prayer in the Prospect of Death | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (42)
  • On the Death of a Private Person | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (42-44)
  • The Parting of Body and Soul | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (45-46)
  • On the Death of a King and a Beggar | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (46-51)
  • Christ the Companion of the Disembodied Soul | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (51-53)
  • On the Death of a Monk | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (53-55)

Biblical Commentaries

Homilies

  • Homily 1: On Our Lord (§§59) | CUA, Vol. 91 (273-332) | NPNF, 2nd, Vol. 13 (305-30) | New Advent
  • Homily 2: On Admonition and Repentance | NPNF, 2nd, Vol. 13 (330-36) | New Advent
  • Homily 3: On the Sinful Woman | NPNF, 2nd, Vol. 13 (336-41) | New Advent
  • On Repentance | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (3-24)
  • On Various Places of Torment and on the Judgment | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (89-106)
  • On the Second Coming and the Last Judgment | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (107-15)
  • On the Antichrist | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (117-29)
  • On the Antichrist and the Consummation | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (131-42)
  • How the Bandit Entered into Paradise Before the Resurrection | PPS, Vol. 4 (83-84)

Other Works

  • Letter to Publius (§§25) | CUA, Vol. 91 (338-55)
  • Prayer for the Future Life | St. Ephrem the Syrian, Toal and Burgess, Eschatological Hymns and Homilies (143-52)

St. Pacian of Barcelona (c. 310-391) | WEST

Letters

St. Epiphanius of Cyprus/Salamis (c. 310/320-403) | EAST

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386) | EAST

Catechetical Lectures

St. Gregory Nazianzus (c. 329-390) | EAST

Funeral Orations

Poems

Orations

Letters

St. Basil (330-379) | EAST

Homilies

The Hexaemeron

Letters

Numbers in parentheses are from the older order of the letters, whereas the others are from the Benedictine order.