Primary texts

The Fathers, in longer form.

The works behind the catechesis — for the slower read.

Augustine, Athanasius, the Cappadocians, Symeon the New Theologian, Maximus the Confessor — the foundational voices of the Orthodox theological tradition.

81 works

St. Gregory of Nyssa

All texts Anonymous (Apostolic)

The Didache

The Two Ways: The Way of Life

There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.

The way of life, then, is this: First, thou shalt love God who made thee; second, thy neighbour as thyself; and all things whatsoever thou wouldst should not occur to thee, thou also to another do not do.

And of these words the doctrine is this: Bless them that curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for them that persecute you. For what thank is it, if ye love them that love you? Do not also the Gentiles do the same? But do ye love them that hate you; and ye shall not have an enemy.

Abstain thou from fleshly and worldly lusts. If one give thee a blow upon thy right cheek, turn to him the other also, and thou shalt be perfect. If one impress thee for one mile, go with him two. If one take away thy cloak, give him also thy coat. If one take from thee thine own, ask it not back, for indeed thou art not able.

Give to every one that asketh thee, and ask it not back; for the Father willeth that to all should be given of our own blessings. Happy is he that giveth according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to him that receiveth; for if one having need receiveth, he is guiltless; but he that receiveth not having need, shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what, and, coming into straits, he shall be examined concerning the things which he hath done, and he shall not escape thence until he pay back the last farthing.

But also now concerning this, it hath been said, Let thine alms sweat in thy hands, until thou know to whom thou shouldst give.

Against Eunomius — St. Gregory of Nyssa

Against Heresies — St. Irenaeus of Lyons

Against Jovinianus — St. Jerome

Against Those Who Oppose Holy Icons

Against Vigilantius and Against John — St. Jerome

Against the Errors of the Latins

Answer to Eunomius

Canons of the Seven Ecumenical Councils

Catechetical Lectures — St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Contra Gentes — St. Athanasius of Alexandria

De Synodis — St. Hilary of Poitiers

Dialogue Against the Pelagians — St. Jerome

Dialogue with Trypho — St. Justin Martyr

Discourses Against the Arians — St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Ecclesiastical History — Eusebius of Caesarea

Encyclical to the Eastern Patriarchs

Epistle of Barnabas — Unknown

Epistle to Diognetus — Unknown

Epistles of Ignatius — St. Ignatius of Antioch

Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith — St. John of Damascus

Exposition of the Christian Faith — St. Ambrose of Milan

Festal Letters — St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Fifty Spiritual Homilies

First Epistle to the Corinthians — St. Clement of Rome

Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus

Fragments of Papias — St. Papias of Hierapolis

History of the Arians — St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Homilies on Romans

Homilies on the Gospel of John

Letters C–CLV — St. Jerome

Letters I–LI — St. Jerome

Letters LII–XCIX — St. Jerome

Letters of Leo the Great — St. Leo the Great

Letters on Nestorius · On the Unity of Christ

Letters to Serapion on the Holy Spirit

Letters — St. Basil the Great

Life of Constantine — Eusebius of Caesarea

Lives of the Monks — St. Jerome

Longer and Shorter Rules · Letters

My Life in Christ

Mystical Theology

On Virginity — St. Gregory of Nyssa

On the Councils — St. Athanasius of Alexandria

On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology — Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

On the Duties of the Clergy — St. Ambrose of Milan

On the Holy Spirit — St. Ambrose of Milan

On the Holy Spirit — St. Basil the Great

On the Holy Spirit — St. Basil the Great

On the Incarnation

On the Life of Antony

On the Making of Man — St. Gregory of Nyssa

On the Mysteries and On the Sacraments — St. Ambrose of Milan

On the Priesthood — St. John Chrysostom

On the Soul and the Resurrection

On the Soul and the Resurrection — St. Gregory of Nyssa

On the Trinity — St. Hilary of Poitiers

On the Unity of the Church

Orations and Letters — St. Gregory of Nyssa

Orthodox Confession of Faith

Other Writings of Justin Martyr — St. Justin Martyr

Other Writings — St. Justin Martyr

Pastoral Rule — St. Gregory the Great

Prefaces to the Vulgate — St. Jerome

Register of Epistles — St. Gregory the Great

Select Letters — St. Gregory Nazianzen

Select Orations — St. Gregory Nazianzen

Selected Ethical Works and Letters — St. Ambrose of Milan

Sermons of Leo the Great — St. Leo the Great

The Apologetic Writings — St. Athanasius of Alexandria

The Apologies — St. Justin Martyr

The Dialogues — St. Jerome

The Didache

The Gospel of Matthew

The Great Catechism — St. Gregory of Nyssa

The Hexaemeron — St. Basil the Great

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

The Philokalia

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers — The Alphabetical Collection

The Seven Ecumenical Councils — Various

Theological Tractates — St. Gregory of Nyssa