Apostelic Father (Noun)
Meaning
Any important early teacher of Christianity or a Christian missionary to a people.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The apostelic father St. Paul traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean, spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ to both Jews and Gentiles.
- St. Clement of Rome, an apostelic father and bishop, wrote several letters to the early Christian community in Corinth, addressing their internal conflicts and offering guidance on moral issues.
- Origen of Alexandria is considered one of the most important apostelic fathers of the early Christian church, known for his extensive writings on theology and biblical interpretation.
- The apostelic fathers, such as St. Polycarp of Smyrna, played a crucial role in establishing the traditions and practices of the early Christian church.
- As an apostelic father to the Slavic peoples, St. Methodius worked tirelessly to translate Christian scriptures and liturgical texts into the vernacular language, facilitating the spread of Christianity throughout Eastern Europe.