The following comes from:
Hilarion (Troitsky) the Hieromartyr, “The Cornerstone of the
Church,” in Bible, Church, History: A Theological Examination (trans.
Nathan Williams; Uncut Mountain Press, 2025)
Greek Fathers:
Chrysostom, Homilies on
Matthew 54:3: “’Upon this rock’ . . . that is, on the faith of his
confession [τη πιστει της ομολογιας]” (PG 58:324; NPNF1
10:333); Homilies on Matthew 82.3: “He . . . has built His church upon
Peter’s confession [επι την ομολογια]” (PG
58:741; NPNF1 10:493) (398 n. 815)
Gregory the Theologian, Orations 32.18: “One
is called rock, and is entrusted with the foundations of the church [ο μεν Πετρα καλειται, και τους θεμελιους ‘Εκκλησιας πιστευεται]” (PG 36:193C; SPP 56). (398 n. 820)
Epiphanius, Panarion 59.7:
“[Peter] confessed that ‘Christ’ is ‘the Son of the living God,’ and was told, ‘On
this rock of sure faith [τη πετρα ταυτη της ασφαλης πιστεως] will
I build my church” (PG 41:1029B; The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis,
books 2 and 3, Frank Williams, trans. [Leiden & New York: J.E. Brill,
1987], p. 109). Shortly before this, Peter is called the rock which supports
the Lord’s faith (στερεα πετρα θεμελιουσα την πιστην του Κυριου). (399
n. 821)
Cyril of Alexandria, A Dialogue on the Trinity
4: “Πετραν, ομαι, παρωνυμως, ετερον ουδεν, η την ακατασειστον και εδραιοτατην του μαθητου πιστιν αποκαλων, εφ’ η και αδιαπτωτως ερηρισται τε και διαπεπηγεν η ‘Εκκλησια Χριστου [The rock, I think, is what in
similitude He is calling the unshakeable and most firm faith of the disciple
upon which the Church of Christ is immovably built]” (PG 75:865C). (399 n. 822)
Latin
Fathers:
Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 16:18: “To
Simon, who believed in Christ the rock [petra] was granted the name of Peter
[Petrus]” (FOTC 117:192). (398 m. 817)
Hilary of Poitiers, On the
Trinity 6:36: “Super hanc confessionis petram Ecclesiae aedificatio est
[This is the rock of confession whereon the Church is built]” (Migne, PL
10:186C; NPNF2 9:111); “Haec fides Ecclesiae fundamentum est [This faith it is
which is the foundation of the Church]” (Ibid. PL 10:187A; NPNF2 9:112). (398
n. 818)
Ambrose of Milan, The
Sacrament of the Incarnation of our Lord 5,34: “Fides est Ecclesiae
fundamentum: non enim de carne Petri: sed de fide dictum est: quia portae
mortis ei non praevalebunt [Faith, then, is the foundation of the Church, for
it was not said of Peter’s flesh, but of his faith, that ‘the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it’]” (FOTC 44:231). (398 n. 819)
Cassiodorus, Explanation of
the Psalms 45.6: “Commoveri non potest Ecclesia, quae in solidissima petra,
hoc est Domino Christo noscitur esse fundata [The Church cannot be moved as it
is seen to be founded on the most solid rock which is the Lord Jesus]” (PL
70:330C; ACW 51:455). (399-400 n. 825)
