The Greek Ecclesiastical Historians of the First Six Centuries of the Christian Era (6 vols.)

An homage written shortly after Constantine’s death, this detailed panegyric is the only substantial record we have of Constantine the Great written during that era. A controversial figure, Constantine was the first Roman emperor to espouse Christianity. This biographical account is the only written source of Constantine’s life altering vision of a floating cross with the inscription “Conquer by this.”

Divided into ten parts, this is a detailed accounting of the history of the Church from the incarnation of Christ to the year 324. A rich chronicle of writers, bishops, heretics, martyrs, persecutions, and more, this collection of anecdotes is an invaluable historical trove.

A continuation of Eusebius’s work, Socrates recounts the history of the Church from the rule of Constantine to the year 439 in seven parts. Thought to be an even treatment of the Church, this understated and simple history differs from Eusebius’s work as it also gives a secular account of history as well.

A reportage of the same era that Socrates covered, Sozomen presents another characterization of this time in history providing historians and theologians with corroboration of many of the depicted people and events. The accounting of monastic communities in Sozeman’s books has proven to be exceptional, likewise, his work on early missionary activities is captivating.

Un-chronological and not as extensive as Socrates and Sozomen’s works, these five books also cover the years 322–427. Another vantage point from which to study this rich history, these books are still greatly valued because of their alternate sources and abundant inclusion of letters.

A continuation of the work of Eusebius, Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoretus, Evagrius’s important work historicizes the Nestorian and Monophysite controversies of the fifth and sixth centuries, as well as providing an absorbing commentary on the many subjects he documents.