Most were not very early, and the Catholic church (EO or RC) decide who they were and what they mean*, and none were NT church fathers, and increasingly are seen the accretion of traditions of men.
Historical testimony to the progressive deformation of the church. Including falsified history
* Thus are explained both her respect for the writings of the Fathers of the Church and her supreme independence towards those writings–she judges them more than she is judged by them.” — Catholic Encyclopedia: “Tradition and Living Magisterium” http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15006b.htm
bump