Ever read a Bible verse and wished you could hear how the earliest Christians understood it? Catena puts tens of thousands of verse-by-verse commentaries from over 250 church fathers right at your fingertips — for free.^1
The name "Catena" comes from the Latin word for "chain," and the app lives up to it: each verse is linked to a chain of patristic commentary spanning centuries of Christian thought. You can read Scripture in multiple translations (NKJV, NIV, RSV, Douay-Rheims, and more), build custom reading plans, highlight and save favorites to collections, and even take personal notes alongside the commentaries. With 30,000+ cross-references, Catena also surfaces related passages to deepen your study.^2
Founded in 2015 by a group of Coptic Orthodox Christians in Ontario, Canada, Catena is built and maintained by a globally distributed team of volunteers — with professional experience from companies like Google and Microsoft — who dedicate their free time to serving the Church.^3 Their mission: evangelizing the timeless faith of the early Christian Church, founded by the apostles, for the edification of all Christians around the world.
Why Christians Love It"I cannot express how edifying and life changing this app has enabled me to know the scriptures, know God, and understand the early church far better than I knew. The quotations from the Fathers are rich with depth and challenging to the heart, unto maturity in Christ."^4
"Although it might seem like an app geared to Orthodox Catholics, even I benefit from this app as a Reformed Protestant. The daily quotes are extremely helpful for learning how to live as Christians and fight our flesh."^4
"I have been using Catena for about 2 years now and what a difference it has made for me. My ability to read commentaries associated with Bible verses has been instrumental in me beginning to understand and share."^4
Notable- Available on iOS, Android, and the web at catenabible.com — completely free, supported by donations^1
- Over 100,000 downloads on Google Play with a 4.7-star rating; 4.9 stars with 4,400+ ratings on the App Store^2
- Team members work remotely from Cairo, England, Los Angeles, NYC, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, and beyond^3
- Also offers Catena LIVE — a Christian content platform with Bible studies and discussions rooted in apostolic teaching^4
