“St. Ambrose of Mediolan (Milano)” redirects here. For the university, see St. Ambrose University. For other uses, see Ambrose (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Ambrosius Aurelianus, a Romano-British war leader.
Saint
Ambrose of Milan
Bishop of Milan
Polittico dei santi cosma e damiano (paolo veneziano) sant’ambrogio.jpg
Portrait by Paolo Veneziano in 14th century
Church Latin Church
Diocese Mediolanum (Milan)
See Mediolanum
Installed 374 AD
Term ended 4 April 397
Predecessor Auxentius
Successor Simplician
Orders
Consecration 7 December 374
Personal details
Birth name Aurelius Ambrosius
Born c. 340
Augusta Treverorum, Gallia Belgica, Roman Empire (modern-day Trier, Germany)
Died 4 April 397 (aged 56–57)
Mediolanum, Italia, Roman Empire (modern-day Milan, Italy)
Nationality Roman
Denomination
Latin Church
Ambrosian Rite
Children
Theology career
Notable work
Veni redemptor gentium
Theological work
Era Patristic Age
Tradition or movement Trinitarianism
Main interests Mariology
Notable ideas Filioque,[1] anti-paganism, mother of the Church[2]
Sainthood
Feast day 7 December
Venerated in
Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Churches
Oriental Orthodox Churches
Anglican Communion
Lutheranism
Title as Saint Doctor of the Church
Attributes Pontifical vestments
Patronage Bee keepers, bees, bishops, candle makers, domestic animals, French Commissariat, geese, learning, livestock, Milan, police officers, students, wax refiners
Shrines Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio
Ambrose of Milan (Latin: Aurelius Ambrosius; c. 340 – 397), venerated as Saint Ambrose,[a] was the Bishop of Milan, a theologian, and one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century.

Ambrose was serving as the Roman governor of Aemilia-Liguria in Milan when he was unexpectedly made Bishop of Milan in 374 by popular acclamation. As bishop, he took a firm position against Arianism and attempted to mediate the conflict between the emperors Theodosius I and Magnus Maximus. Tradition credits Ambrose with promoting “antiphonal chant”, a style of chanting in which one side of the choir responds alternately to the other, as well as with composing Veni redemptor gentium, an Advent hymn. He also had notable influence on Augustine of Hippo (354–430).

Western Christianity identified Ambrose as one of its four traditional Doctors of the Church. He is considered a saint by the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, and various Lutheran denominations, and venerated as the patron saint of Milan.