Summary
Aurelius of Carthage was a Christian saint who died around 430. A friend of Augustine of Hippo, he was bishop of Carthage from about 391 until his death.
Saint Aurelius | |
|---|---|
| deacon, archbishop of Carthage | |
| Died | 20 July 429 AD |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | Hirsau Abbey, Germany |
| Feast | July 20 |
Life edit
Not much is known about his life outside of his ecclesiastical activities. At the time when Augustine of Hippo returned to Africa in 388, Aurelius was a deacon. Aurelius served as a patron to Augustine when Augustine was a priest in Hippo. Augustine sought the establishment of a monastic community – for which space was granted by bishop Valerius – and was funded by Aurelius. Aurelius provided the monastery with new members for the purpose of episcopal training, effectively turning the monastery into a sort of early episcopal seminary. Augustine admired Aurelius, and a number of letters from Augustine to Aurelius have survived.[1]
Aurelius became Bishop of Carthage around 392[2] and led a number of ecclesiastical councils on Christian doctrine and clerical discipline, including the important Council of 419 which codified "The Code of Canons of the African Church".[3] Aurelius was one of the first Bishops to denounce Pelagianism.[4] He encouraged veneration of the martyrs, and introduced the feast day of Saint Cyprian.[5]
Aurelius's feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is July 20.
References edit
- ^ Writings of Saint Augustine: Letters, 1*-29* (v. 6). Cima Publishing Company. 1947. p. 117.
- ^ "Aurelius, St, Bishop of Carthage". McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ Percival, Henry (2011). The Seven Ecumenical Councils Of The Undivided Church: Their Canons And Dogmatic Decrees Together With The Canons Of All The Local synods Which Have Received Ecumenical Acceptance. Benediction Classics. pp. 625–739. ISBN 978-1849023641.
- ^ "Aurelius". New Advent. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ Geerlings, Wilhelm, "Aurelius, of Carthage (Saint)", Religion Past and Present 2006, ISBN 9789004146662
External links edit
- Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina (in Latin)
- Santi Beati: Sant' Aurelio di Cartagine (in Italian)