4th century
Saint Ambrose of Milan
A Roman governor who was unexpectedly elected Bishop of Milan in 374 while still a catechumen, and who became known as a theologian, hymn writer and defender of Orthodoxy until his death in 397.
Biography
Ambrose was born in 339 or 340, the son of a Roman official. He studied rhetoric, philosophy and law and became governor at Milan, exercising the office with justice while still a catechumen.
In 374 the people unexpectedly acclaimed him bishop of Milan, so he was baptised, passed quickly through all the church ranks and was ordained. As bishop he fought against Arianism and refused to let Emperor Theodosius enter the church until he had sincerely repented for the massacre at the Hippodrome of Thessaloniki.
He left an important body of theological writing and hymns and influenced the conversion of Augustine to Christianity. He died peacefully in 397, at the age of 57.