Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Mediolansus (Milan)
Commemorated on December 7
The judgement of the Lord is never hypocritical. In His own time, He judges everything righteously, and will reward everyone according to his deeds. Our main endeavor, as long as we remain in this life, is to endure everything, to humble ourselves, and to implore the Lord for His help and His mercy, and all will be well.
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
This
great holy father of the Orthodox Church was of eminent birth. His
father was the imperial deputy of Gaul and Spain and was a pagan by
faith, but his mother was a Christian. While he was still in the cradle, a swarm of bees settled on him, poured honey onto his lips, and flew away. And while still a child, he extended his hand and spoke prophetically: “Kiss it, for I will be a bishop.”
After his father’s death, the emperor appointed him as his
representative in the province of Liguria, of which Milan was the chief
city. When the bishop of Milan died, a great dispute arose between the
Orthodox Christians and the Arian heretics concerning the election of a
new bishop. Ambrose entered the church to maintain order, this being his
duty. At that moment, a child at its mother’s bosom exclaimed: “Ambrose for bishop!”
All the people took this as the voice of God, and unanimously elected
Ambrose as their bishop, contrary to his will. Ambrose was baptized,
passed through all the necessary ranks and was consecrated to the
episcopacy, all within a week. As bishop, Ambrose strengthened the
Orthodox Faith, suppressed the heretics, adorned churches, spread the
Faith among the pagans, wrote many instructive books, and served as an
example of a true Christian and a true Christian shepherd. He composed the famous hymn “We Praise Thee, O God.”
This glorious hierarch, whom men visited from distant lands for his
wisdom and sweetness of words, was very restrained, diligent and
vigilant. He slept very little, labored and prayed constantly, and
fasted every day except Saturday and Sunday. Therefore, God allowed him
to witness many of His miracles and to perform miracles himself. He discovered the relics of the Holy Martyrs Protasius, Gervasius, Nazarius and Celsus (October 14).
Meek toward lesser men, he was fearless before the great. He reproached
Empress Justina as a heretic, cursed Maximus the tyrant and murderer,
and forbade Emperor Theodosius to enter a church until he had repented
of his sin. He also refused to meet with Eugenius, the tyrannical and
self-styled emperor. God granted this man, so pleasing to Him, such
grace that he even raised the dead, drove out demons from men, healed
the sick of every infirmity, and foresaw the future. Ambrose died peacefully on the morning of Pascha in the year 397.
The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date December 7, and New Calendar date December 20.
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