Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine or Aurelius Augustinus, was one of the most influential figures in the development of Western Christianity and philosophy. Born on November 13, 354 AD, in Thagaste, Numidia (modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria), he was a key figure in the transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages.
Augustine was raised in a Christian household by his mother, Monica of Hippo, but his father, Patricius, was not a Christian until later in life. Augustine's intellectual journey began at the University of Carthage, where he studied rhetoric and became enamored with the teachings of Manichaeism, a dualistic religion. He was a keen student of literature and philosophy, which later influenced his theological and philosophical works.
After moving to Rome and then Milan, Augustine encountered Ambrose of Milan, whose Neoplatonist teachings and allegorical interpretation of scripture profoundly impacted Augustine. This led to his conversion to Christianity in 386 AD, after which he was baptized by Ambrose in 387 AD. His philosophical and theological works began to reflect a synthesis of Christian doctrine with elements of Neoplatonism.
Augustine's theology had a lasting impact on Western thought:
In 395 AD, Augustine was ordained as a priest and in 396 AD became the Bishop of Hippo Regius. He spent the rest of his life in this role, engaging in theological debates, writing, and leading his diocese. Augustine died on August 28, 430 AD, during the siege of Hippo by the Vandals.
Augustine was canonized by popular acclaim, and his feast day is celebrated on August 28. He is considered one of the Church Fathers and a Doctor of the Church, venerated in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.