The Fathers, Illustrated Edition, Vol. 1: St. Clement to St. Paulinus of Nola

The Origins of the ChurchSt. Clement, Bishop of Rome ... St. Ignatius of Antioch ... Origen of Alexandria ... St. John Chrysostom ... St. Basil ... St. Gregory Nazianzus ... St. Ambrose of Milan ... and more.These illustrious Church Fathers are the first and second generations of the Church, following the Apostles. It is upon their backs that the Church's journey through history is established and solidified. By defending the newborn Christianity to the point of death and explaining the content of the Faith in a language understandable to the faithful, the Apostolic Fathers created a timeless anchor of faith that extends through the challenges of today. For the first time, the stories of our Church Fathers are intertwined with the greatest painters in Christendom in a one-of-a-kind collection of timeless truths and dozens of visually stunning full color illustrations. Pope Benedict carefully explains the stories of the Fathers rich history and the vital role each one played in not only preserving the Church at the time, but also in anchoring the Church of today as well as the future. They exhorted believers in the face of persecution while fighting heresies and misunderstandings. They were theologians and philosophers, orators and pastors, leaders and problem solvers, martyrs and heroes. Expand on the insights of Pope Benedict by visualizing their efforts and experiences through the works of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, and more!