SAINT AMBROSE

Sant'Ambrogio che scrive

December 7 is the feast day of Saint Ambrose, patron saint of Milan and one of the four original Doctors of the Church along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great. Born in 340 near Augusta Treverorum (modern-day Trier, Germany) into a Roman Christian family, Ambrose was later educated in Rome; there he studied literature, law, and rhetoric. He was then appointed as governor of Liguria and Emilia, a Roman province with headquarters at Milan, in 372. It was only two years later, after the death of the previous bishop of Milan, Auxentius, that the saint was made bishop himself by popular acclamation.

Ambrose's remains may still be viewed and worshipped in the Basilica of Saint Ambrogio in Milan. The city celebrates its patron saint with the traditional "Oh bej! Oh bej!" (in Milanese: "oh so nice! oh so nice!") fair, or Fiera di Sant'Ambrogio ("Saint Ambrose Fair"), held every year from December 7 until the following Sunday; the fair, located by the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio from 1886 to 2006, was then moved to the area of the Sforza Castle due to its incredible popularity.

"Saint Ambrose writing", historiated initial "T", illumination from the manuscript "Hexaemeron", ms. 0212, t. III, f. 1r, Bibliothèque municipale, Médiathèque Voyelles, Charleville-Mézières.

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