A word about Saint Ambrose of Milan

Exclusive. Beloved in Christ, on the day of the bright commemoration of Saint Ambrose, we recall one profound truth that the history of the Church itself reveals to us: the grace of God does not destroy human nature, does not overshadow it or erase it. It acts differently - it sanctifies, elevates, strengthens, finding in every good quality of a person a place for its bright radiance. So it was in the life of Saint Ambrose. The strength of his spirit, the nobility of character, natural wisdom and courage - all this was not broken by grace, but became its vessel. The priesthood only deepened and sanctified these gifts, revealing to the world one of the most glorious Fathers of the Church.

Saint Ambrose was born around 340 in Trier, where his father was prefect of the Roman Empire. Coming from an illustrious senatorial family whose ancestors included Roman consuls (and, according to tradition, even emperors of Rome), he gained even greater honor from his great-aunt, the virgin and martyr Saint Soteria, whose generous blood washed the stones of the Appian Way in 304. Together with his siblings Marcellina and Satyrus, Ambrose spent his childhood and youth in Rome, where his mother had settled after the untimely death of her husband in Gaul.

Ambrose's education was entirely Roman: the reading of Virgil, Cicero, and Seneca, supplemented by the study of law, imprinted on his soul and character the unmistakable imprint of logic, clarity, and dialectical inclination, which were later placed at the service of the Faith.

At just over thirty, he moved to Milan—the second capital of the Empire and the residence of the Christian emperors, as well as the capital of the provinces of Liguria and Emilia—to be appointed governor of those provinces by Emperor Valentinian I.

Ambrose had been governor of Milan for two years when Bishop Auxentius died in 374. The neighboring bishops, who had gathered in one of the city’s basilicas to elect his successor, were at a deadlock. Meanwhile, the people in the nave of the basilica waited impatiently for a decision.

Suddenly a cry was heard above the crowd. A pure child's voice exclaimed: "Ambrose is the bishop." As if carrying out an order from heaven, the crowd picked up the call: "Let Ambrose be our bishop!" It is unclear whether the child's exclamation was a direct inspiration, commanded by the Holy Spirit, or whether it was caused by some soul that knew about the virtues of the saint and feared the choice of an Arian bishop.

It is certain that at the age of 34, Ambrose, still a catechumen (that is, one who was only preparing to receive the sacrament of holy baptism), valiantly tried to avoid the responsibility that the people, the clergy, and even the emperor's approval wanted to impose on him. But neither controversy nor an unsuccessful escape helped him. In the end, submitting to the divine will, revealed by heavenly inspiration, the generous young patrician ascended the steps of the altar to occupy the episcopal chair. 

December 7 374 year Ambrose received the priesthood and then the episcopal dignity. He had been baptized eight days earlier. “Preserve, Lord,” he exclaimed, “your work, preserve the gift that you gave even to him who was alarmed by it. For I knew that I was not worthy to be called a bishop, having devoted myself to this world, but by your grace I am what I am. And I am truly the least of all bishops and the lowest in merit.”

The date of his ordination was December 7, 374 – the date on which we commemorate his memory.

Saint Ambrose was a man of high culture and classical education, but when he became a bishop, he had almost no systematic knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, having accepted the archpastoral lot, he zealously set about studying the Bible in depth—so to speak, he studied in the midst of his ministry, relying on the grace of God. In modern language, we can say that he studied on the job.

The works of the famous church writer Origen of Alexandria had a particularly great influence on his formation as an interpreter of Scripture. Thanks to him, Ambrose entered into a spiritual understanding of texts, learned to combine the literal, moral and spiritual meanings, and precisely because of this he became one of the most insightful theologians and preachers of his time. At the same time, he introduced to the West the practice of prayerful reading of Scripture, which later received the Latin name lectio divina.

For the Orthodox consciousness, it is worth explaining: in essence, lectio divina is the same prayerful and penitential reading of the Holy Scriptures that has always existed in the monastic and theological tradition of the East. Its essence is not an academic analysis of the text, but attentive and heartfelt listening to the Word of God, which leads a person to repentance, a change of life and a deeper union with God. In such prayer, reading turns into reflection, and reflection turns into prayer of the heart, which opens a person to the action of grace. It is thanks to this way of life and reading the Scriptures that Saint Ambrose became a spiritual mentor for many. Through his word and example, the lost son of Saint Monica, Saint Augustine, also found his way to Christ, whose inner struggle and repentance were ultimately crowned with conversion.

Saint Ambrose is rightfully considered a saint, especially close to the period of preparation for the Nativity of Christ. His life testifies that the Lord has a plan for every person, and this plan often surpasses our imagination. When a person humbly accepts God's will, then God's providence will reveal immeasurably more good than any human considerations. And, finally, his example teaches us the prayerful reading of Scripture, which is so necessary in the days of pre-Christmas expectation. During this period, the Church offers us the prophecies of the holy prophet Isaiah, which reveal the image of the coming Messiah. It is worth stopping, quieting our thoughts, opening our hearts, and prayerfully bending over these words in order to prepare the inner dwelling of the soul for the great mystery of the Nativity of Christ, in which the Word became flesh for the sake of our salvation.

In the time of the saint, a fierce struggle continued around the main question of faith: who is Christ? Is He a creature higher than the angels, as the Arians asserted, or is He the Only Begotten Son of God, the same in nature as the Father, “Light from Light, true God from true God”? Saint Ambrose, drawing from the Tradition of the Fathers and forcing himself to a deep study of Scripture, with unbreakable firmness affirmed the Orthodox confession: Christ is perfect God and perfect Man. This confession is not an abstract formula. It is the foundation of our salvation.

For if Christ is not God, then He cannot save us; if He is not Man, then He cannot present us before the Father. Therefore, Saint Ambrose saw that any distortion of the truth about Christ is not just a theological error, but a blow to the very heart of the Gospel. That is why he was not afraid to speak out against the powerful, was not afraid to expose error, was not afraid to stand guard over the faith. And at the same time, he reminded us that heresy is not always born of evil intent. Often it begins with misunderstanding, with superficial knowledge, with the inability to distinguish where human reasoning ends and mystery begins. Therefore, he called for vigilance, for prudence, for constant prayer, and for careful guarding of the heart.

And today the Church needs the same sobriety. After all, the distortion of the image of Christ can manifest itself not only in the form of ancient heresies, but also in subtle, modern substitutions - when they try to reduce Christ to a moral teacher, to a historical figure, to a "model of humanity." Saint Ambrose reminds us: in the Church, it is not an idea that is preached, but a Person - God, who became Man for the sake of our salvation.

May his steadfastness strengthen us too: that we may confess Christ with pure faith, that we may cherish dogmatic truth in our hearts as the most precious treasure, that we may not allow any substitution to deprive us of the fullness of salvation. And then, according to the words of the Fathers, “right faith will give birth to right life,” and fidelity to Christ will lead us into the world in which His Divine truth shines.

Let us return, please, to the earthly path of Saint Ambrose. His ministry was not without severe trials, and more than once he found himself on the verge of mortal danger. Riots broke out in Milan, caused by religious disputes. Particular tension was caused by the position of Justina, the widow of Emperor Valentinian I, who promoted Arianism, a heresy that denied the true Divinity of the Son of God. To counteract this distortion of faith, the Church developed a clear theological confession, in particular the Creed attributed to Saint Athanasius, which proclaims: The Lord Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man.

Justina sought to hand over one of the main churches/basilica of Milan to the Arians for their worship. The young emperor Valentinian II, her son, was also inclined to her intentions. However, Saint Ambrose, being a man of justice and mercy towards all who thought differently, still stood firm in matters of truth. He could not and had no right to give up God’s temple for worship that distorted the Orthodox teaching about Christ. For him, this would have been a betrayal of the very essence of the church’s mission.

Some time later, on Palm Sunday, still in the basilica with a crowd of laity supporting him and surrounded outside by enemy soldiers, Ambrose preached a sermon on the situation. It was a powerful sermon; we can only imagine the strengthening yet calming effect it had on the congregation. From the very beginning of the sermon, Ambrose assures the assembled laity that he will not abandon them. “Did you fear that I would abandon the Church and abandon you, fearing for my own safety? … I will never voluntarily abandon you…”

In several places Ambrose made it clear that he respected the emperor and was only against state interference with the rights of God. If the state demanded tribute, he would say: “I will willingly give up any of my property that may be demanded, whether it be estates, or houses, or gold, or silver—in fact, anything that is in my power. But I cannot take anything from the temple of God. . . . I act for the good of the emperor, for it would be wrong for me to give it up, nor for him to receive it.” He later concluded that “the temple of God cannot rightfully belong to Caesar.”

Hearing the soldiers at the basilica and preaching just a few days before Good Friday, Ambrose said to the congregation before him: "Allow, I beseech you, your bishop to meet his enemies." He feared for the safety of the crowd, though he did not fear for himself. He had already made it clear that he would not use force to resist arrest, despite the unjust punishment that would threaten him: "Christ desires to suffer in His servants." The soldiers did not seize Ambrose that day, and the emperor eventually abandoned his attempts to seize the basilica.

In the end, the Lord showed His care: the saint was left alone, and he continued his ministry.

After the accession to the throne of Emperor Theodosius I the Great, who deeply respected Ambrose, the bishop gained considerable authority. However, despite the emperor's favor, Ambrose remained as direct, bold, and unwavering in his dealings with him as he was with others. In matters of good and evil, he did not recognize double standards: earthly power never changed his loyalty to the will of God.

Theodosius was known for his fiery temper. When an official was murdered in Thessalonica (now Thessaloniki, Greece), Theodosius issued an order to severely suppress the rebellion. Ambrose heard of this grave sin, and when Theodosius next came to church, Ambrose met him on the steps and informed him that he could not enter the church or receive Holy Communion until he publicly repented of his sins. Although Theodosius could have killed Ambrose for daring to oppose him, he knew that Ambrose was right. He publicly repented and decreed that from now on, when he sentenced someone to death, there would be a one-month waiting period before carrying out the sentence, in case he realized that he had acted hastily.

Later, under the influence of Saint Ambrose, the emperor bore true fruits of penance. Thus, we are presented with the image of a true archpastor—courageous, just, and faithful to the truth to the end.

The trials continued. The nomadic Goths devastated cities along the borders of the Roman Empire, and Milan became a center of refugees. Many refugees were captured by the Goths, who demanded ransoms from the Roman cities for the return of their citizens. Ambrose took the precious gold vessels and ornaments that adorned the church and melted them down so that the gold could be used to pay the ransom.

The Arians in Milan hated Ambrose simply because he was not an Arian. They tried to portray this act as sacrilege—giving the sacred things of God into the hands of godless Goths. Ambrose knew that his critics were only looking for faults in him. He said: “It is far better to preserve souls than gold for the Lord. … The Church has gold not to preserve it, but to give to those who need it. … Would not the Lord Himself say: ‘Why have you allowed so many needy people to die of hunger? Did you not have gold? You should have given them food. Why do so many captives remain in slavery? It is better to preserve living vessels (people) than golden ones.’”

Amidst the dangers that threatened his person, the great soul of Ambrose was calm and seemed unaware of the fury of his enemies. It was on one of these occasions that he introduced the choral singing of the Psalms in Milan. Until then, the sacred songs had been recited from the pulpit by a single voice of the reader; but Ambrose, shut up in his basilica with his people, took advantage of the opportunity and formed two choirs, ordering them to sing verses of the Psalms to each other. The people forgot their difficulties, enjoying this heavenly music; even the howling of the storm and the fury of the siege they endured, strengthened and transformed their faith.

Eventually, Ambrose's preaching about Christ became known throughout the Church, and his proclamation led to many conversions.

One of them had a profound influence on the course of Western Christianity for centuries to come. In Romans 10:14-17, Saint Paul tells us that “faith comes from hearing” through the preaching of preachers. Without a doubt, the most famous convert to the faith through Ambrose’s preaching was Aurelius Augustine, who himself became a renowned preacher, bishop, theologian, autobiographer, and church father. In his Confessions, Augustine claims that he first heard Christ proclaimed as his Savior and, as a result, came to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation through Ambrose’s preaching.

The conversion of Saint Augustine, the beloved son of the Church, was one of the most striking fruits of the gracious ministry of Saint Ambrose of Milan. Indeed, the preaching gift of this outstanding bishop left an indelible mark on the history of the entire Christian West. It is not without reason that Ambrose is glorified among the four great teachers of the Church, along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Theologian.

The pastoral word of Saint Ambrose still resonates in the hearts of the faithful. We hear it through sacred hymns that have survived the centuries. His famous Christmas hymn "Savior of the Nations, Come" speaks to us in particular, in which, as representatives of the Western Christian tradition, the mystery of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed with depth and purity. This singing, performed on the days of his liturgical memory and in the pre-Christmas season, elevates the soul to the awareness of the saving grace revealed to us in Christ.

But among all the hymns of Saint Ambrose, a special place is occupied by the majestic hymn "We Praise You, God." This hymn, which has become the common property of the entire Christian world, sounds in thanksgiving prayers, solemn services, and prayers for blessings. Its words, full of power and reverence, unite the hearts of Christians in a single glorification of the Almighty for His mercies, which are constantly bestowed upon humanity.

Thus, through sermons, through hymns, and through the depth of divinely inspired teaching, Saint Ambrose still today instructs, strengthens, and directs our thoughts to Him Who is Wisdom, Light, and Salvation—to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The faithfulness of Saint Ambrose proved to be a grace that had a far-reaching and lasting influence on the life of the Church. His pastoral instructions to Saint Augustine, his courage in defending the truth of the Gospel in the face of all earthly opposition, and the spiritual beauty of his hymnography—all of these have become a treasure that the Church has preserved for over sixteen centuries.

Saint Ambrose, having a deep knowledge of the patristic heritage, carefully read the works of the Greek teachers of the Church, in particular Saint Basil the Great. By transmitting their divinely inspired teaching to his Latin-speaking flock, he became a bridge between East and West, contributing to the preservation of the unity of faith. It was thanks to such spiritual insight and fidelity to the Orthodox Tradition that the Church was able to firmly resist the threat of the Arian heresy, which distorted the teaching about the true Divinity of the Son.

He died in 397. He was not yet fifty years old, but his strength was exhausted. He had seen the troubles of the Church of his time, but for Christians it was a time of peace and tranquility, when the faithful servant was called to spend his Easter in heaven. With his hands folded on his chest, his lips moving in prayer, he departed from the earth.

Filled with fiery love for the God-man, Saint Ambrose proclaimed: “Omnia Christus est nobis – Christ is everything to us!”

And truly: when a wound needs healing, He is the Physician; when the soul is burned by the fever of sorrows, He is the Source of living water; when injustice oppresses, He is Justice and Truth; when strength is lacking, He is Power; when the shadow of death frightens, He is Eternal Life; when we yearn for Heaven, He is the Way; when darkness envelops, He is the Unquenchable Light. Therefore, according to the words of the saint, “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Blessed is the soul that puts its hope in Him. May Christ become everything for us, through the prayers of Saint Ambrose, our way, our support, our light, and our salvation. To Him be glory now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Abbot Theophanes of Polotsk.