Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Patristics \Pa*tris"tics\, n.
   That departnent of historical theology which treats of the
   lives and doctrines of the Fathers of the church.

Source : WordNet®

patristics
     n 1: the writings of the early Church Fathers [syn: {patrology}]
     2: the study of the lives, writings, and doctrines of the
        Church Fathers [syn: {patrology}]