Ambrose of Milan

The bishop who forced a Roman Emperor to kneel.

Bishop of Milan and one of the four original Doctors of the Western Church. A former Roman governor who was elected bishop by popular acclamation before he was even baptized, Ambrose combined political savvy with theological depth and established the revolutionary precedent that the Church had moral authority over the State.

Verified Facts

• He was elected Bishop of Milan by a rioting crowd while he was still a catechumen (unbaptized learner). He was baptized, ordained, and consecrated bishop all within one week—one of the most extraordinary career changes in history.
• After Emperor Theodosius massacred 7,000 civilians in Thessalonica in 390 CE, Ambrose publicly excommunicated him and refused him communion until he performed months of public penance. This was the first time a churchman had successfully asserted moral authority over a Roman Emperor.
• He was the direct catalyst for Augustine's conversion. Augustine came to Milan as a skeptical rhetoric professor and was gradually won over by Ambrose's allegorical preaching, which showed him that Christianity could be intellectually sophisticated.
• He introduced Eastern-style hymn singing to the Western church. Several hymns attributed to him (the "Ambrosian hymns") are still sung today, making him one of the founders of Western church music.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Further Reading

• Wikipedia: Ambrose
• Stanford Encyclopedia: Ambrose

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