Biography
Ambrose of Alexandria
About Ambrose of Alexandria
The surviving evidence for Ambrose's life comes mainly from writers describing Origen. Eusebius says that Ambrose had followed Valentinian teaching before Origen persuaded him to accept the church's doctrine. Jerome, writing later, says Ambrose had first followed Marcion. The accounts agree that Ambrose became a committed Christian associated with Origen, but they differ on the earlier affiliation; the sources disagree on which affiliation preceded his conversion, and the evidence does not resolve the difference. Eusebius credits Ambrose's energy, financial resources, and persistence with helping Origen produce many books. He also says Ambrose provided secretaries and copyists, and reports that Origen referred to him as a demanding taskmaster.Jerome identifies Ambrose as a church deacon and a confessor of the faith. Eusebius says Origen dedicated his work on martyrdom to Ambrose and the presbyter Protoctetus, in a context of persecution. These sources support a role in the Christian community and a reputation shaped by persecution, but they do not provide an independently verifiable account of a trial or physical torture. Neither source gives a secure birth date or birthplace. A later estimate of death around 250 is not precise enough to establish an exact year securely, so his exact life dates remain unknown.
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