Ambrose: Encyclopedia II - Ambrose

Ambrose - Bishop of Milan

The diocese of Milan was at the time, like the rest of the church, deeply divided in the contest between Trinitarians and Arians. In 374, Auxentius, bishop of Milan, died, and the Nicene and Arian parties contended for the succession. The prefect went personally to the basilica where the election should take place, to prevent an uproar which was probable in this crisis. His address was interrupted by a call "Ambrose for bishop!" which was taken up by others upon which he was univocally elected bishop.

Ambrose was a likely candidate in this situation, because he was known to Trinitarians as sympathizer, but also acceptable to Arians due to the theologically neutral position he took as politician. He himself refused at first energetically the office, for which he was in no way prepared - he was so far only catechumen with no theological training. Only by intervention of the emperor he gave in and got within a week baptism and ordination and was duly installed as bishop of Milan.

As bishop, he immediately adopted an ascetic lifestyle, apportioned his money to the poor, settled his land on the church, making only provision for his sister Marcellina, and committed the care of his family to his brother.

According to legend, Saint Ambrose immediately and forcefully stopped heresy in Milan. Actually, he moved more realistically and deliberately, as he had not much arguments against Arianism which dominated especially among the clerics and higher levels of society. He started to study the basics of theology with Simplician, a presbyter of Rome. Using to advantage his excellent knowledge of Greek, which was then rare in the West, he studied the Bible and Greek authors like Philo, Origenes, Athanasius and Basil of Caesarea, with whom he was also exchanging letters (See letter of Basil to Ambrose). He applied his new knowledge as preacher, concentrating especially on exegesis of the Old Testament and his impressive rhetorical abilities impressed Augustine of Hippo, who hitherto had thought poorly of Christian preachers.