The Map of the Fathers
167 Fathers across 8 regions of the ancient Christian world, set where they taught. Play the centuries to watch each seat gilded as its Fathers arrive, and the lines of teaching drawn between them.
Alexandria
The catechetical school of St. Mark: Clement, Origen, Athanasius and Cyril, and the Coptic fathers of Egypt.
- BarnabasAn epistle ca. 138
- Clement of AlexandriaGnosis (Knowledge) Born: 150 Dean: 190 Died: 215Taught by Pantaenus
- Didymus the Blindb. ca. 313- d. ca. 398Taught St. Gregory of Nazianzus; Taught St. Jerome; Taught Rufinus of Aquileia; Taught Palladius
- Heraclas13th of Alexandria: ca. 232- ca. 247Taught by Origen; Succeeded by St. Dionysius of Alexandria
- Origenb. 185 – d. 254Taught Heraclas; Taught St. Gregory Thaumaturgus of Neocaesarea
- PantaenusPhilosopher Dean: 181Taught by Athenagoras; Taught Clement of Alexandria
- PieriusDean: ca. 275
- Serapion of Thmuisbp. ca. 339
- St. Alexander of Alexandria19th of Alexandria: 312-328Ordained St. Athanasius the Apostolic
- St. Athanasius the ApostolicBorn: ca. 297 Pope: 328Ordained by St. Alexander of Alexandria; Taught by St. Anthony the Great
- St. Cyril of Alexandriaca. 375 – 444Taught by St. Theophilus of Alexandria
- St. Dionysius of AlexandriaDean: 232-246 14th of Alexandria: 246-270Succeeded Heraclas
- St. Dioscorus of Alexandria25th of Alexandria: 444Taught St. Timothy Aelurus
- St. Peter the Seal of MartyrsDean 17th of Alexandria: 293-311
- St. Theophilus of Alexandriaca. 385 - 412Taught St. Cyril of Alexandria
- St. Timothy Aelurus26th Of Alexandria 457-477Taught by St. Dioscorus of Alexandria
- Synesius of Cyreneb. ca. 370 – 375
- TheognostusDean: ca. 265-282
- Al-Mutaman Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Al-AssaalDates not given
- Al-Safie Abu Al-Fadailca. 1205 – ca. 1265
- Anba Bulus Al-Bushica. 1170 – 1240
- Anba Yusab Al-Abahh1735 – 1826
- Ibn Al-Makinb. 1205 – d. 1273
- Ibn KabarDates not given
- Ibn Katib Qaysar (Caesar)Dates not given
- Muallem Rizk (Rizk Agha)Dates not given
- St. Boutrus (Peter) Al-SedmantiDates not given
- St. Sawirus (Severus) ibn Al-Moqafaab. c. 905-10 - d. after 987
The Desert of Egypt
Scetis, Nitria and the Thebaid: the monastic fathers Anthony, Macarius, Pachomius and Shenoute.
- Abbess St. SarahDates not given
- Evagrius of PontusDates not givenTaught Palladius
- HorsiesiosDates not givenSucceeded by St. Theodore of Tabennesi
- Palladiusb. ca. 365 d. ca. 425Taught by Didymus the Blind; Taught by Evagrius of Pontus
- St. Amoun of Nitriab. ca. 275
- St. Anthony the Greatb. ca. 251 d. 356Taught St. Athanasius the Apostolic
- St. Isidore of Pelusiumd. ca. 435
- St. Macarius the Alexandrianb. ca. 295 d. ca. 394
- St. Macarius the Greatb. ca. 330 – d. ca. 390
- St. Pachomiusb. ca. 290 d. 346Taught St. Theodore of Tabennesi
- St. PaphnutiusDates not given
- St. ShenouteDates not given
- St. Theodore of Tabennesid. 368Taught by St. Pachomius; Succeeded Horsiesios
Jerusalem & the Holy Land
The mother church and the fathers of Palestine: Eusebius the historian and the see of Caesarea.
- Aristo of Pellaca. 140
- Hegesippusb. ca. 110 – d. ca. 180
- Acacius of Caesareabp. 340,d. ca. 366Taught by Eusebius of Caesarea
- Euzoius of Caesaread. 376
- Gelasius of Caesareab. ca. 335/6 bp. ca. 367 d. 394/5
- Hesychius of Jerusalemd. ca. 450
- Eusebius of Caesareaca. 260 – ca. 340Taught Acacius of Caesarea; Taught Eusebius of Emesa
Antioch & Syria
The Antiochene school and the Syriac fathers: Ignatius, Chrysostom, Ephraem and the Stylites.
- Tatian the Syrianb. ca. 110 – d. ca. 172
- Theophilus of Antiochd. 183-185
- Serapion of Antiochbp. 199 d. 211
- Acacius of Beroeab. ca. 340- d. 433
- Antiochus of Ptolemaisd. before 408
- Basil of Seleuciad. ca. 468
- Eusebius of Emesab. ca. 300Taught by Eusebius of Caesarea
- Eustathius of Antiochbp. 324-326
- Macarius MagnesEnd of 4th century, placed on the timeline by century
- Meletius of Antioch360-381Taught by Diodore of Tarsus
- NemesiusOF EMESA ca. 390
- Polychronius of Apameaca. 428-431
- Severian of Gabalad. after 408
- St. Ignatius of Antiochca. 35 – ca. 108
- St. John Chrysostomb. ca. 347- d. 407Taught by Diodore of Tarsus; Taught Nilus of Ancyra; Taught St. Mark the Recluse; Ordained John Cassian
- St. Mark the Reclused. after 430Taught by St. John Chrysostom
- Zacharias the Rhetord. After 536
- Ahai of Madaend. 415
- Asona4th Century, placed on the timeline by centuryTaught by St. Ephrem the Syrian
- Elisha bar Kosbayee of Nisibis496
- Gregory the MonkDates not given
- HarmoniusDates not given
- Isaac of Antiochd. ca. 491?
- Isaac the Syrian6th century, placed on the timeline by century
- Jacob Aphraates270?-345
- Jacob of NisibisEnd of 3rd century, placed on the timeline by century
- Marutha of Maiferqatd. ca. 420
- Polycarpus of Mabbugca. 508
- Sergius of Ris‘Aynad. 536
- Simon Bar-Saboëd. 343
- St. Balaid. before 449
- St. Ephrem the Syrianca. b. 306–d. 373Taught Asona
- St. Jacob Baradaeusb. 505 bp. 543 d. 578
- St. Jacob of Sarugb. ca. 451- d. 521
- St. Joannes Saba507
- St. John of Tellab. ca. 483- d. 538
- St. Philoxenus of Mabbugd. 523
- St. Rabbula of Edessabp. 411- 435
- St. Severus of Antiochb. ca. 456-d. 538 Patriarch: 512
- St. Simeon Kokoyo the Potterd. 514
- St. Simeon of Beth-Arshambp. 503 d. 540
- St. Simeon the Styliteb. ca. 388- d. 459/60
- Titus of Bostrabp. ca. 362
Asia Minor & Cappadocia
Polycarp and the early martyrs, and the Cappadocians: Basil and the two Gregorys.
- Apollinaris of Hierapolisca. 161-180
- Melito of Sardisd. ca. 190
- Papias of Hierapolisca. 60-130
- St. Polycarp of Smyrnad. 155/156Taught St. Irenaeus of Lyons
- Pinytus of Gnossusbp. ca. 161-180
- Eutherius of Tyana(of Cappadocia)
- John of Ephesusb. ca. 507 – d. 586/7
- Marcellus of Ancyrad. ca. 374
- Nilus of Ancyrad. ca. 430Taught by St. John Chrysostom
- Amphilochius of Iconiumb. ca. 340- 345
- Asterius of Amaseabp. ca. 380- 390
- St. Basil the Greatca. 330-379
- St. Gregory of Nazianzusca. b. 329- d. 390Taught by Didymus the Blind
- St. Gregory of Nyssab. ca. 330- d. ca. 395
- St. Gregory Thaumaturgus of Neocaesareab. ca. 213 d. ca. 270- 275Taught by Origen
Constantinople & the Greek East
The imperial city and the Greek fathers of the Aegean and Achaia.
- Aristides of Athens2nd century, placed on the timeline by century
- Athenagoras2nd century, placed on the timeline by centuryTaught Pantaenus
- Hermias3rd century, placed on the timeline by century
- Quadratus2nd century, placed on the timeline by century
- Dionysius of Corinthca. 171
- Didachus of PhoticeMiddle of the 5th century, placed on the timeline by century
- Gennadius of Constantinoplebp. 458-471
- Prochlus of Constantinopled. 446
- Hegemonius4th century, placed on the timeline by century
- St. Epiphanius of Salamisb. ca. 315- d. 403
Rome & the Latin West
Rome, Italy and Gaul: Clement, Irenaeus, Ambrose, Jerome and the Latin fathers.
- HermasThe Shepherd ca. 160
- Miltiades2nd century, placed on the timeline by century
- Minucius FelixLate 2nd or Early 3rd century, placed on the timeline by century
- St. Clement of RomeTwo letters ca. 95;ca. 150
- St. Justin the Martyrca. 100 – ca. 165
- St. Irenaeus of Lyonsb. ca. 140 – d. 202Taught by St. Polycarp of Smyrna
- Bedeca. 673-735
- Caesarius of Arlesb. 469/70- d. 542Taught by St. Augustine of Hippo
- Damasus of Romeb. ca. 304/5 bp. 366-384
- Eusebius of Vercellid. 370/1
- Gregory the Greatb. 540 bp. 590 d. 604
- Hippolytus of Romed. ca. 235
- Innocent Ibp. 402-417
- Luciferd. ca. 370
- Reticius of AutunDates not given
- Rufinus of Aquileiaca. 345 - 410Taught by Didymus the Blind
- St. Ambrose of Milanb. ca. 339 bp. ca. 374 d. 397Taught St. Augustine of Hippo
- St. Hilary of Poitiersb. ca. 315 bp. ca. 353 d. ca. 367
- St. Jeromeca. 345 - 419Taught by Didymus the Blind; Taught by Apollinaris of Laodicea
- Victorinus of Pettaud. ca. 304
- Ausonius of Aquitaniab. ca. 310- d. ca. 394Taught Paulinus of Nola
- Avitusbp. 490 d. 523
- Claudius Claudianusd. ca. 404
- Claudius Marius Victoriusd. 425-450
- Cyprian of Gaulca. 400
- Dracontiusb. ca.450-460 d. after 496.
- Eucherius of Lyonsbp. 434 d. ca. 450
- Faustus of Riezb. ca. 400 bp. 457 d. ca. 490/95
- Gennadius of Marseillesd. 496
- Hilary of Arlesb. ca. 401 d. 449
- Honoratus of Arlesd. ca. 430
- John Cassianb. ca. 360- d. 435Ordained by St. John Chrysostom
- Juvencusca. 330
- Liberatus Diaconus6th century, placed on the timeline by century
- Marius Mercatord. after 451
- Paulinus of Nolab. ca. 354 d. 431Taught by Ausonius of Aquitania
- Prosperb. ca. 403
- Prudentiusb. 348
- Salvian of Marseillesb. ca. 400 d. ca. 469/70
- SeduliusEarly 5th century, placed on the timeline by century
- Sidonius Apollinarisb. ca. 430/32 d. ca. 487
- Sulpicius Severusb. ca. 360 d. 420-425
- Vincent of Lerinsd. before 450
North Africa
Carthage and Hippo: Tertullian, Cyprian and Augustine.
- Tertullianb. ca. 160 – d. ca. 223
- Arnobius of Siccad. 327Taught Lactantius
- Commodian3rd century, placed on the timeline by century
- Lactantiusb. ca. 240 – d. ca. 320Taught by Arnobius of Sicca
- St. Augustine of Hippob. 354- d. 430Taught by St. Ambrose of Milan; Taught Caesarius of Arles
- St. Cyprian of Carthageb. ca. 200 – d. 258
- Facundus of Hermianebp. 546-571
- Victor of Tunnunad. ca. 566
Condemned teachers and anonymous works are not placed: the map shows the Fathers, not the heresies. They are all still in the full list, and every line of teaching is in the lineage. Coastlines and rivers are from Natural Earth (naturalearthdata.com), in the public domain. Each region’s mark stands on its main seat; the timeline orders the 153 Fathers whose dates give a year or a century.