Podcastica Patristica

Tylor Standley hosts this podcast on early Christianity. On each episode, he discusses a person, text, or issue in early Christian history. By the end of each episode you will be able to either read an ancient text for yourself or engage with some more dense introductory materials.

Last refreshed: August 16th, 2025 at 7:31 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 6: Constantine

In 274 CE a hero was born. Or a demon, depending on how you look at him. A man whose name is synonymous with the entangling of power, politics, and religion. He was either the greatest king Christendom has ever known or the serpent who tricked the Church into eating from the tree of civil power.

Apr 09, 2017•1 hr 2 min

Mini Episode 5: The Evolution of the Pope

On this episode of the podcast, Gerhard gives the background of the idea of the papacy. The episode tracks the idea of authority figures in the church from the days of the New Testament to the first modern-style pope, Julius of Rome (337-352 C.E.).

Mar 16, 2017•17 min

Mini Episode 4: Lent

The Lenten Fast is one of Christianity's oldest traditions. In this episode, Tylor discusses the history and meaning of this sacred season.

Mar 02, 2017•13 min

Mini Episode 3: The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is unquestionably the most important document in church history. In some circles the text of the creed is simply synonymous with “orthodoxy.” In this episode, Gerhard explains the creed and its meaning, line by line.

Feb 16, 2017•18 min

Episode 5: Arius

The story of Arius is shrouded in mystery. In this episode, we try to untangle the web of legends and lies to find the true story of Arius. Sam Davidson joins to tell us about Santa Claus slapping heretics and reviving children from their pickle.

Feb 02, 2017•1 hr 7 min

Mini Episode 2: What is Heresy?

As modern Christian leaders continue to call their opponents "heretics," it might be a good idea to understand what heresy actually is. Tylor hosts this mini episode and discusses what the early church meant by the term.

Jan 17, 2017•15 min

Episode 4: John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom’s unmatched skill in public speaking led him to become one of the most famous preachers in his own day and in ours. Paradoxically, it also led to his own death. Listen to this episode to find out how he became such a great speaker, what he thought about wealth and poverty, and why some scholars think he is responsible for the Holocaust.

Jan 01, 2017•1 hr 17 min

Mini Episode 1: Ephrem on the Nativity

In this episode, Gerhard talks about St. Ephrem the Syrian. Ephrem might rightly be called the Church’s greatest theologian-poet. Listen to this episode and you’ll find out exactly why, as Gerhard reads one of his hymns on the Nativity.

Dec 15, 2016•14 min

Episode 3: Origen

In this episode we introduce you to one of the most famous--or infamous--church fathers: Origen of Alexandria, who was the first Gentile Church Father to learn the Hebrew Language, who created a way to interpret scripture that dominated Christian exegesis for the next millennium and a half, and who castrated himself (yes, you read that right...he castrated himself).

Dec 01, 2016•55 min

Episode 2: The Didache

The Didache is so early that it claims to have been written by the Apostles themselves.

Nov 17, 2016•51 min

Episode 1: Introduction

Welcome to the wonderful world of Patristics!

Nov 03, 2016•19 min

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