The title refers to the fact that the authors were Christian scholars who furnished spiritual light to the seventh century A.D. They also furnished intellectual light through their writings.
Many eastern theologians are treated, such as Babai the Great, Sophronius of Jerusalem, Anastasius Sinaïta, Isaac of Nineveh, Maximus the Confessor, John Moschus, Timothy of Constantinople, etc.
The western theologians are represented by the Venerable Bede, Pope Gregory I, Isadore of Seville, Ildefonsus, and Julian of Toledo.