Archpriest John Meyendorff

INTRODUCTION TO

PATRISTIC

THEOLOGY

Part 1

Translated from English by Larisa Volokhonskaya

© Svetoslov Publishing House, St. Petersburg, 1997.

Contents

Translator's Foreword

Author's Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1. Apostolic Men. Sts. Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna

Chapter 2. The struggle against Gnosticism. St. Irenaeus of Lyons

Chapter 3. Early Christian apologists. St. Justin the Martyr

Chapter 4. Tertullian

Chapter 5. St. Cyprian of Carthage

Chapter 6. Clement of Alexandria

Chapter 7. Origen

Chapter 8. Origenism in the Third Century. History of Arianism

Chapter 9. St. Athanasius the Great

Chapter 10. St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Translator's Foreword

In 1979-81, I was fortunate enough to study at St. Vladimir's Theological Academy (New York), where I attended a course of lectures by Archpriest John Meyendorff on patristic theology. The translation of the recordings of these remarkable lectures was at first conceived with more modest aims than this publication. Yet, knowing from my own experience how difficult, almost impossible, it was to obtain books on theology in the Soviet Union, I welcomed the opportunity to publish this translation in book form. In my work, I was supported by the conviction that the freedom of religion that we enjoy in the West can be fully realized only if we share its fruits with those who are deprived of this freedom - our brothers and sisters in Christ living in Russia. The support of my friends strengthened me in this confidence. I very much hope that Father John's book will find its readers, and they will share with me the satisfaction and joy that I experienced while working on its translation.

Author's Foreword