Several significant individuals distinguished themselves during Christianity's history. Indeed, the dominant personalities of the Christian Faith literally shaped the world in which we live.

Let us then discover some of these personalities which prepared the ground for the rapid growth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The following summaries are taken from the book "What A Story".

Polycarp of Smyrna (St. Polycarp) (69 - 155) - Converted by the original twelve apostles, he was a disciple of the apostle John. It is generally recognized that Polycarp was the pastor of Smyrna's irreproachable Church mentioned in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 2:8-10 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life' : I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.' "

Polycarp strongly opposed the heretics of his time. The previous verses indicates that he had to face a sect called the "synagogue of Satan". Ironically, we know, according to his own writings that he labeled the leader of one of those sects; "the first-born of Satan". 

Polycarp asserted that the apostles who preceded him were much more superior to his contemporaries, because of their deep faith. For him, the God of the Jews and God of the Christians is the same.

Polycarp was tortured under the rule of the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius in the year 155 and the supernatural events surrounding his execution led to the beginning of the worship of saints. After his death, his bones were distributed to various churches and became the first worshipped relics. Here are the words Polycarp pronounced before his execution, while he refused to deny Christ and to worship Cesar: 

"It has been eighty-six years since I've been serving Him and He never hurt me; how could I blaspheme my King who saved me? "

Augustine of Hippo (St. Augustine) (354 - 430) - Augustine is without a doubt one of the most important thinkers of Christianity's history. His writings possess an unequaled value of doctrinal soundness still to this day. 

Minister, bishop, speaker, writer, philosopher, theologian, man of prayer, He is one of the most complete individuals that one can find in all the Christian Church. 

Augustine was born in Tagaste, in Africa, in the year 354, and received from his mother Monique, the basic principles of the Christian virtue. However, just like several rebel-young children in their spiritual education, Augustine lived a life of great sin during the majority of his youth. Finally, following thirty years of tears poured in prayer by his mother, God revealed Himself miraculously to Augustine. The truths found in Christ penetrated his heart and the prodigal son surrendered his life to the Lord. 

In Milan, under the influence of the preachings of Ambrose, Augustine was shaken to the depth of his soul. However, it was after having bitterly lamented the reality of the many sins which lived in him, he heard the voice of a child who said: "Take the book and read! Take the book and read!" Upon hearing this voice, Augustine randomly opened the epistles and read the words of the apostle Paul in the book of Romans:

Romans 13.14 "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

From this moment on, the reality of Christ lived in Augustine and gave him the spiritual courage and moral strength to face the vices and temptations of the flesh crawling in his time. "The son of so many tears will definitely not die!" said a member of the clergy to his discouraged mother right before his conversion. Indeed, these words contain hopeful expectations for numerous "Moniques" of this world having "Augustines" as an offspring.

Augustine's opposition to the many heresies of his time was with such power and perspicacity, that they were practically annihilated through his irrefutable reasonings expressed in his papers. The numerous papers written by Augustine are the most magnificent fulfilment that human intelligence can produce when one is enlightened by the Christian faith. He vigorously fought pelagianism as well as donatism with Matthiew's Gospel (chapter 13) and Luke 14:23. If his writings are admirable by their sharply superior intellectual contents, they are not less greater by the sweetness of God's love which permeates them. 

It is Augustine who gave the definition of the "Visible Church" and of the "Invisible Church". He proposed a simple explanation regarding the dilemma of what was the real Christian Church. He classified under one banner called "The Visible Church", those institutions and sterile religious hierarchies created by men and inaccurately called Christians. This grouping is called "visible" because of its worldly behavior, easily observable throughout the ages due to its influence in the political world. He also called "The Invisible Church" the company of those who were considered to be spiritually regenerated by the Grace of God and are really part of Christ's Body. This grouping is called "invisible" because of its often inconspicuous presence, and also because its accomplishments were usually voluntarily neglected by faithless historians. This last representation is still valid nowadays. 

Nevertheless, in spite of Augustine's great intellect, the supporters of the purgatory's doctrine find in him an ally. Father of Catholicism concerning the authority of the clergy of the Church (he rejected however the superiority of a specific bishop over the others, thus, rejected the future roman papacy), he was also the father of Protestantism regarding the doctrine of salvation by the Grace of God. He considered the Holy Writings to be infallible and devoid of error. He spent the last ten years of his life in seclusion, having fellowship only with God.