In former times, professors of Patristics, even Orthodox theologians, considered that there were no more Fathers in the Church after the 8th century. In other words, they closed the borders of Patristics, refusing to accept there were other Fathers after John the Damascan. This view of the matter, even on the part of Orthodox professors, was heavily influenced by the theology of the Protestants, who, as is well known, rejected the existence of saints, referring to them mockingly. Protestants also doubted or rather, in practice, played down the position and role of the Fathers of the Church. One outcome of this is that there was no involvement with Orthodox ecclesiastical literature written after the 8th century and this clear marginalization and ...
