The course will introduce the students into the « world » and times of the Fathers. We will take into consideration the various aspects of patristic studies : Bible, philosophy, dogmatics, morals, ecclesiology, liturgy, and the social context in which the Fathers preach, write and lay the foundations of the christian doctrine. The course will be divided in three major sections : first a biographical and contextual presentation, secondly, we will focus on the « doctrinal and intellectual » dimension of patristic litterature, and thirdly, the role and importance of the Fathers in the teachings of the Church today.