What is "patristics"

Patristics \Pa*tris"tics\, n. That departnent of historical theology which treats of the lives and doctrines of the Fathers of the church.

n. The study of the works of the early Christian .

1. n. the writings of the early Church Fathers [syn: patrology]

2. the study of the lives, writings, and doctrines of the Church Fathers [syn: patrology]

Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin pater and Greek patḗr (father). The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age (c. AD 100) to either AD 451 (the date of the Council of Chalcedon) or to the 8th century Second Council of Nicaea.