Ambrose | |
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| Confessor | |
| Born | 2nd century Alexandria, Egypt |
| Died | 250 |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches Catholic Church |
| Feast | 17 March |
Ambrose of Alexandria (before 212 – c. 250) was a friend of theChristiantheologianOrigen.
Ambrose was attracted by Origen's fame as a teacher, and visited theCatechetical School of Alexandria in 212. At first agnosticValentinian andMarcionist, Ambrose, through Origen's teaching, eventually rejected this theology and became Origen's constant companion,[1] and was ordaineddeacon.[2][3] He plied Origen with questions, and urged him to write his Commentaries (treating him as "ἐργοδιώκτης" inCommentary on John V,1) on the books of theBible, and, as a wealthy nobleman and courtier,[4] he provided his teacher with books for his studies and secretaries to lighten the labor of composition.[5] Origen often speaks of Ambrose affectionately as a man of education with excellent literary and scholarly tastes. All of Origen's works written after 218 are dedicated to Ambrose, including hisContra Celsum,Commentary on St. John's Gospel, andOn Prayer.[4] Ambrose's letters to Origen (praised byJerome) are lost, although part of one exists.[6]
He suffered during the persecution under the Roman emperorMaximinus Thrax in 235, which led Origen to write hisExhortation to Martyrdom, addressed to Ambrose and a priest ofCaesarea named Protoctetus.[7][8] He was later released and died aconfessor.[9] The last mention of Ambrose in the historical record is in Origen'sContra Celsum, which the latter wrote at the solicitation of Ambrose.
Ambrose is venerated as a saint by some branches of Christianity. His feast day in theCatholic Church falls on 17 March.[9]
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