My answer depends on how you define the Church Fathers. If we're using the Orthodox definition ( which holds that the patristic period is ongoing and continues past John of Damascus) then my answer would be St. Gregory Palamas. If we're using the traditional Western position that cuts off the patristic period at John of Damascus then my answer would be St. Benedict of Nursia or St. Anthony the Great (an honorable mention is Boethius who has had a profound impact on my faith journey). If we're using the Early Church definition that cuts off at 325 then I'd go with Clement of Alexandria. Finally, if we include the full list of Desert Fathers then I'd have to go with Evagrius of Ponticus or St. Pachomius.
Must you always be so passive-aggressive when asked a basic question? Who is your favourite Church Father?
It’s a toss-up. Either Origen, Gregory of Nazianzus, Nicholas of Myra, or Augustine of Hippo. Probably Augustine.
I am a fan of St. Gregory of Nazianzus. I am also an admirer of St. Benedict, having learned he was never ordained. Another lowly layman who nevertheless made a big impact on Christian monasticism.
Whose idea was it to want to be called 'Father' by followers of Jesus Christ. When did that tradition first get off the ground in the Christian church? If there was any of them that refused to let anyone, unrelated in that way, call him 'Father', on the ground that Jesus Christ told us not to call anyone but God 'our father', then he would be my favourite one, since it would be he who probably was taking the rest of the teachings of our master most seriously, so thus being more deserving of the title than any of the others insisting on being called 'Father', against Christ's advice to his disciples. I once had a Master at Arms, when I was serving as a Chief PO in the Royal Navy that insisted on me addressing him in conversation as 'Master' when replying to him, instead of 'Master at Arms'. (A Master at Arms is not a commissioned officer, so is not addressed as 'Sir'). I refused, saying "I have only one 'Master', Jesus Christ, and he significantly out-ranks you Master at Arms." .
Paul. Paul called himself 'father'. Why must super-Protestants always come on these threads and turn it into some debate? This is not historically controversial stuff.
Of all the things to take too literally. It’s like evangelicals who end all their prayers with “in Jesus’ name.” The English Reformers had no problem referring to “the Fathers,” FWIW; I don’t feel any particular need to outdo their piety.
They didn't have any bother with not swearing oaths in court either, even though Jesus preferred only an affirmation from us. Though they did leave it as a bit of an afterthought, all the way back at Article 39.
Ok I'll play fair on this now, and I apologise for messing with your thread. I don't have a favourite Church Father because I am ignorant of most of their characteristics and achievements. I have not researched their lives or their writings. There, I'm being honest. Most of my theological influences came directly from the canon of scripture and the liturgy of the churches I have served Christ in. The four people who most influenced my development as a disciple of Christ though, (so they could be labelled my 'favourites'), were The Rev. Stanley Wincott, (my tutor and priest, as a child in the CofE), The lives of - St Francis of Assisi and Sadhu Sundar Singh, and the writings of C. S. Lewis. Along the way I have enjoyed the works of Jaques Ellul, John Drane, Robert Farrar Capon, Alister McGrath, Phillip Yancy and Walter Wink. Among many others. Having said all that, I greatly admire Didymus the Blind, A Desert Father, who didn't actually live in the desert, who was affectionately called by his friends in the faith, Didymus the Insightful. I particularly like him because he believed in the apokatastasis. Shows he was a kindly sort. .
Excellent! Had a friend many decades ago. Lived in Pompey. Was a former 'Killick Crusher'. Lovely title. Served in the Arctic Convoys WW2.