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The term "Church Fathers" includes [[Christian]] leaders as late as the 8th century, a span of nearly 800 years. They are often divided into "Ante-Nicene"(prior to the [[Council of Nicaea]], 325 A.D.) and "Post-Nicene" (after the council) categories,<ref>https://www.ccel.org/fathers</ref> with the former often considered particularly important (though many later fathers are highly revered as well). Even more revered among them are the ''Apostolic fathers'', fathers of the 1st and 2nd centuries who are believed to have personally known some of the [[apostles]].

The term "Church Fathers" includes [[Christian]] leaders as late as the 8th century, a span of nearly 800 years. They are often divided into "Ante-Nicene"(prior to the [[Council of Nicaea]], 325 A.D.) and "Post-Nicene" (after the council) categories,<ref>https://www.ccel.org/fathers</ref> with the former often considered particularly important (though many later fathers are highly revered as well). Even more revered among them are the ''Apostolic fathers'', fathers of the 1st and 2nd centuries who are believed to have personally known some of the [[apostles]].

The writings of the fathers are often used as a reference point for determining what is considered [[orthodox]], with authoritative documents like the [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] making heavy use of their writings.

The writings of the fathers are often used as a reference point for determining what is considered [[orthodox]], with authoritative documents like the [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] making heavy use of their writings.  But some of the assertions by certain Church Fathers are widely rejected as incorrect today, due to the discovery of earlier [[Gospel]] manuscripts and improvements in computer technology to facilitate analysis.

== See also ==

== See also ==