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Meet the
First Christians |
Many Christians
are under the misconception that the Church never existed
until the time of Constantine in the 4th century . Below
are 9 real, historical martyrs for the Catholic Christian
Faith that say otherwise. At the end of this page is a list
of more than 50 other First Christians that either gave
up their lives or were model examples of holiness for the
Catholic Faith founded by Jesus on St. Peter.
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Saint
Ignatius of Antioch 50-107AD
Syrian; ecclesiastical writer, bishop, martyr Wrote
several very early Church documents.
Ignatius uses the word "Catholic" in his letter
to the Smyrnaeans.
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St.
Clement of Rome, 4th Pope of the Catholic Church 60-99AD
pope: (88-97) Roman; pope, martyr. The oldest extant
Christian homily we have is attributed to him: Second
letter of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians (150)
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St.
Polycarp of Smyrna 69-165AD
Asia Minor; bishop, defender of orthodoxy, martyr
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St.
Justin Martyr 100-165AD
Samaritan; philosopher, apologist, martyr
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St.
Irenaeus of Lyons 125-203AD
Asia Minor; bishop, missionary, theologian, defender
of orthodoxy
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Tertullian160-230AD
North African; ecclesiastical writer, Christian apologist,
son of a centurion and trained as a lawyer in
Rome. Pagan for half his life.
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St.
Jerome 342-420AD
Dalmatian; priest, hermit, abbot, biblical scholar
and translator, Doctor of the Church— Translated the Holy Scriptures for the Catholic Church
by order of Pope Damasus I.
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St.
Augustine of Hippo 354-430AD
North African; bishop, theologian, Doctor
of the Church. Well loved saint, even among
Protestants!
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St.
Gregory I (the Great), 64th Pope of the Catholic
Church 540-604AD
Roman; pope, abbot, liturgist, reformer, statesman, Doctor
of the Church. He helped the poor while
spreading and strengthening the faith. He wrote extensively
on moral and theological subjects.
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Listed
as follows: { Saints name (life span) }
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