The '''Apostolic Fathers''' are a group of early Christian authors and Christian leaders who are believed to have had contact with Jesus' twelve disciples, and whose writings date back to the middle of the first century. They include St. [[Clement of Rome]], [[Ignatius of Antioch]], St. [[Polycarp of Smyrna]], Didache, Barnabas of Alexandria, The Shepherd of Hermas, and Diognetus. | The '''Apostolic Fathers''' are a group of early Christian authors and Christian leaders who are believed to have had contact with Jesus' twelve disciples, and whose writings date back to the middle of the first century. They include St. [[Clement of Rome]], [[Ignatius of Antioch]], St. [[Polycarp of Smyrna]], Didache, Barnabas of Alexandria, The Shepherd of Hermas, and Diognetus. |