Bishop
He was born in 340 in Northern Italy into a wealthy Roman family. After receiving a legal education, he took the position of consular prefect of the provinces of Liguria and Emilia in 370. During the election of the bishop in Milan, hearing a voice proclaiming him bishop, he was compelled to accept the election, was baptized, and was consecrated as bishop in 374.
After his consecration, he distributed his possessions to the poor and began to diligently study the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers of the Eastern Church. He courageously fought against the Arian heresy, composing the hymn “Te Deum” in memory of the victory over Arianism. At his insistence, the pagan title of supreme priest was removed from the imperial title, and priests and idol temples were deprived of state funding.
He exemplified pastoral firmness when he did not allow Emperor Theodosius into the temple after the bloody massacre of the Thessalonians, imposing penance on him for reconciliation with God and the Church. In 387, under the influence of his preaching, Saint Augustine was baptized, who later became a bishop and a great theologian of the Western Church.
He spent his last years in constant prayer, awaiting his death, which occurred in 397. He is venerated among the greatest theologians and Fathers of the Church, known as a reformer of church singing, introducing metric rhythm and diverse melodies into singing, and wrote about 30 hymns.
