The Church Fathers

I would now like to tell you about the Church Fathers. In the Orthodox Church, we often speak of them with great respect, because they were the early Christian teachers and bishops who defended and explained the faith after the time of the Apostles.

The Fathers are heirs of the Apostles. The Apostles themselves appointed bishops to lead the Church. Paul told Titus: “Appoint elders in every town ... for a bishop must be blameless as God’s steward” (Titus 1:5–7). The Fathers were those bishops and teachers in the generations that followed, continuing the same faith that the Apostles handed down.

The Fathers defended the truth of the Gospel. In the early centuries, many false teachings arose. The Fathers protected the Church from error by teaching clearly about Christ, the Trinity, and salvation. Saint Paul warned: “Guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14). The Fathers did exactly this—guarding the faith from corruption.

The Fathers explained the Bible. They were not inventing new ideas, but faithfully interpreting the Holy Scriptures in the light of Apostolic Tradition. The Bible itself shows this pattern: when the Ethiopian eunuch read Isaiah, he asked, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:31). The Fathers served as guides, helping Christians understand the Scriptures rightly.

The Fathers gave us the Creeds and Councils. When the whole Church faced confusion about who Jesus is, the Fathers gathered in councils, prayed, and proclaimed the truth. This is how the Nicene Creed was formed, based on the Scriptures. It fulfills what the Apostles practiced in Acts 15, when the leaders of the Church met to decide important matters together.

The Fathers are examples of holy living. They were not only teachers, but also saints who lived what they taught. The book of Hebrews tells us: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

The Fathers keep us anchored in the Scriptures and the Apostolic tradition. In a world where teachings change constantly, the Church Fathers remind us of the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Their writings continue to strengthen the Church and help us stay faithful to Christ.

The Church Fathers are not above Scripture, but faithful witnesses to it. They help us remain rooted in the Apostolic faith, guarding the truth and guiding us in the way of Christ.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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