My personal list of spiritual favorites. Listed in a loose chronological order. Many are institutional saints; others should be. I Figured it might be interesting to let everyone know what sources lie behind much of my thinking and writing.
Jesus, the Christ ——————————– AD 30
Paul of Tarsus ———————————– AD 60
Gospel Writer of John ———————– AD 90
Justin Martyr ———————————– AD 150
Clement of Alexandria ——————— AD 190
Origen of Alexandria ———————— AD 230
Athanasius of Alexandria —————– AD 330
Macarius of Egypt —————————- AD 350
Basil of Caesaria —————————— AD 350
Makrina the Younger ———————- AD 355
Gregory of Nazianzus ——————— AD 360
Gregory of Nyssa —————————- AD 380
Evagrius Ponticus ————————— AD 380
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite —– AD 500
John Climacus ——————————– AD 620
Maximus the Confessor —————— AD 630
Isaac of Nineveh —————————– AD 680
Symeon the New Theologian ———– AD 1000
Gregory Palamas ————————— AD 1340
Teresa of Ávila ——————————- AD 1560
John of the Cross —————————- AD 1580
Additional influences: Antony the Great, Pachomius the Great, John Cassian, John of Damascus, Seraphim of Sarov, John B. Heard, Vladimir Lossky, Sergii Bulgakov, John Zizioulas, John Romanides, Christos Yannaras, Hierotheos of Nafpaktos, John Meyendorff, Alexander Schmemann, Kallistos (Ware), Dumitru Stăniloae, Olivier Clément, Sophrony (Sakharov), Seraphim (Aldea), Bart Ehrman, Marcus Borg, Richard Rohr, Eusebius Stephanou, N.T. Wright, Jürgen Moltmann , and David Bentley Hart.
First Thoughts 
#1 by johnbholt on November 11, 2023 - 10:15 AM
The title of this First Thoughts post captures two rich dimensions of the Christian faith: mystery (mystic) and relationships (family). This post focuses on the Christian experience and illuminating power of truth revealed by divine grace and human surrender. Part of the authenticity and authority of this “family tree” is found in the deepest questions repeatedly asked by “our family” through the centuries. Listening to those questions, we are inspired to embrace the “mystery of faith” that enriches our “first thoughts” and indeed every thought. We are giving thanks for breadth and depth of this First Thoughts post and the blessings it is to reaffirm the answer to the question, “Whose am I?” “You know me. I am Yours, O Holy One!”