The Church Fathers and Early Christianity in Hispania

The Fathers of the Church

Certain influential people who exercised great influence in the Church are identified by the name "Fathers of the Church." Their thought was born from the reflection on and study of the Sacred Scriptures and the philosophical thought of the Greek period. There are two groups of Church Fathers: Eastern and Western.

Eastern Fathers

Notable figures include those from Alexandria, John Chrysostom, and Gregory of Nazianzus. They used Greek as their literary vehicle, and their writings are more open to the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle.

Western Fathers

Notable figures include Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan; Saint Jerome; Saint Augustine of Hippo; and Pope Gregory the Great. They used Latin, and their writings often had an apologetic character.

The study of these writers and their works is known as Patristics.

The Dawn of Christianity in Hispania

We must look to the 3rd century in Hispania to find the first testimonies of Christianity and the establishment of an organized Church.

• The martyrdom of Bishop Fructuosus and his deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, in Tarragona in the year 259.
• The Gospel arrived in the north of Hispania from Africa through Cugat and Felix. The former was martyred in Sant Cugat del Vallès and the latter in Girona in the 4th century.
• Important martyrs like Eulalia or Bishop Severus in Barcelona.
• The scarce documentation preserved mentions Bishop Pretextat of Barcelona attending the Council of Sardica in 347 and a bishop in Girona in 400.
• Bishop Pacian of Barcelona, who led the church between 360 and 390. He was a prelate with a classical education, famous for his writings.
• The creation of the Diocese of Egara (Terrassa) around 450 and the documented existence of dioceses in Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza by 484.

Vocabulary

Virtuous

The quality of a person acting according to moral and legal standards and shunning evil.

Exegesis

The confrontation and comparison of sacred writings; critical interpretation of scripture.

Patristics

The study of the lives, writings, and doctrines of the Fathers of the Church.

Ecclesiastical Prelate

A high-ranking cleric, such as a bishop or abbot, with jurisdiction or an honorary title.