Confident.Faith

Today we commemorate Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter. Along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, Ambrose of Milan is considered one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. Becoming Bishop of Milan in AD 374 — largely by acclamation — Ambrose would go on to be a prolific hymnwriter and defender of the faith. Ambrose played no small part in suppressing the Arian heresy through his interactions with Emperor Gratian and Emperor Theodosius. Many are undoubtedly familiar with Ambrose’s hymn, “Savior of the Nations, Come”.

Today we commemorate Nicholas of Myra, Pastor. One of the best known saints on the calendar, Nicholas of Myra — better known as Saint Nicholas — has long been associated with charitable giving. Many European nations still maintain December 6th as a day for giving and receiving gifts. Beyond the fact that there was a Church of Saint Nicholas in Constantinople as early as the sixth century and that there was a Bishop Nicholas of Myra in the fourth century, little is known historically about St. Nicholas.

Today we commemorate John of Damascus, Theologian and Hymnwriter. John of Damascus, was a Greek theologian and priest. Giving up an influential position in the Islamic court, John devoted himself to Christianity and entered a monastery outside Jerusalem. Commemorated for his lasting contributions to the orthodox Christian faith, John enriched both Eastern and Western Christianity; his greatest work was the Fount of Wisdom, a collection of writings from earlier Christian theologians.