I realize that there is not a lot of interest in learning about the early fathers of our faith, but I find their role to have been vital and courageous. As I’ve stated in several recent blog articles, these early leaders had an enormous task of developing a Christology, distilling the Apostle's Doctrine, determining structure for the new church [especially after Emperor Constantine’s conversion in 312 A.D.], and evangelizing the known world of that time!
An especially controversial and widely followed heresy was called Arianism – named after an Alexandrian presbyter, Arius. The Arians couldn’t accept that Christ was co-equal with God. They believed that He was created by God! In spite of the fact that the heavily influential decision of the Council of Nicea [325 A.D.] was to denounce Arianism as a heresy – it continued to be a problem.
Enter Ambrose of Milan. He was born into power by being part of the Roman family of Aurelius. He was a governor in Italy’s northern provinces before he turned thirty. Even as a governor he had ecclesiastical problems to deal with. The Orthodox Christians and Arians were practically at war at the time.
About that time, the bishop of Milan died. Ambrose attended the meeting to elect a replacement, hoping that his presence would preempt violence between the parties. Much to his surprise, both sides shouted their wish for him to be their replacement. Ambrose was happy with his role of governor and did not make himself available to be bishop. The people wrote to Emperor Valentian, asking for his seal on their verdict. Ambrose was put under arrest until he agreed to serve!
He immediately opposed Arianism – authoring several works against them. He was regarded as an excellent preacher. Remarkably, he spoke frequently and powerfully on the virtues of the practice of strict self denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline.
He became a champion of the Church by arguing with three emperors – and winning each time. When Emperor Theodosius set a trap for a group of rebellious rioters killing 7,000 within three hours, Ambrose was horrified and demanded his public repentance! He forbade the emperor to attend worship until he prostrated himself before the altar.
Theodosius obeyed, making the first time church triumphed over state! He continued to hold the bishop in high regard until he died in the arms of Ambrose! Ambrose eulogized the emperor: “I confess that I loved him, and felt the sorrow of his death in the abyss of my heart.”
Ambrose died two years later on Easter Eve, 397 A.D., having been bishop of Milan for twenty-three years!
However, his influence did not end! He was outshined by a student who had gone to Milan in 384 to hear the bishop’s famous allegorical preaching. By the time this student left four years later, he had been baptized by Ambrose and given a philosophical basis that he would use to transform Christian teaching. This student’s name was Augustine!
[Some information gleaned from Wikipedia and '131 Christians Everyone Should Know' pp.80-82]
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