pə.ˈtristik, -stēk adjective
or pa·tris·ti·cal -stə̇kəl, -stēk-
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary patr- + -istic, -istical
1. : of or relating to the philosophical and theological writings of the early church fathers
the revival of patristic studies in the U.S. — Times Literary Supplement
2. : of or relating to the basic early writings of any cult or system
the patristic texts of Soviet Marxism — Daniel Lerner
Pahlavi patristic literature — A.V.W.Jackson
the patristic literature of America — D.C.Mearns