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How Ambrose Of Milan Stood Up to An Emperor And Changed History
Does the church supersede the state? Or vice versa?
Ambrose of Milan was an unusual bishop. Legend has it that Ambrose never wanted to be the bishop of Milan. In fact, at the time of his election, Ambrose had never been baptized. He wasn’t a fervent Christian and had no religious education. Amrbose’s background was in the Roman government. He and his brothers were governors of minor provinces during the 4th century. But when the former bishop died unexpectedly, Ambrose brought it upon himself to witness the election of a new bishop.
At the time, Christianity was bitterly divided between an Arian faction that claimed that Jesus was a created being and not God and an orthodox faction that believed the opposite. The election was getting heated, and Ambrose feared violence, so he stood up and used his considerable rhetoric to calm the crowd down. When he was done speaking, the crowd began to shout “Ambrose, bishop” and “Bishop Ambrose of Milan.” In short order, Ambrose was raised to the office of bishop and was given an eight day crash course on Christian theology and a hasty baptism.
Ambrose was bewildered but decided that he would give this job the same time and attention that he had given his previous job as governor of the surrounding area. At first…
