Saint Augustine Coptic Orthodox Church

Saint Augustine

Bishop of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (A.D. 430)

His Childhood and Youth

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Saint Augustine,  who  used commonly  to  be  called Austin  in English, was born  on November 13, 354 at  Tagaste,  a small  town of Numidia  in north  Africa,  not  far  from  Hippo.  His  father,  Patricius,  was  a pagan  and  of  a  violent  disposition;  but  through the  example  and prudent  conduct of his wife,  Saint  Monica, he  was baptized a  little before his death.

 

As a  child, Saint  Monica  instructed  him in  the  Christian  religion and  taught  him  how  to  pray;  falling  dangerously  ill,  he desired baptism  and his mother  got  everything  ready for it:  but he suddenly grew better, and it was put off.

 

His  father wanted him  to  become  a  man  of learning  and cared  very little  about  his   character.  In  his  writings,   Augustine  accuses himself of  often  studying  by constraint, disobeying  his  parents and masters,  not  writing,  reading,  or  minding  his  lessons so much  as was required of him; and this he  did not  for lack  of  wit or  memory, but  out  of   love  of  play.   But   he  prayed  to  God   with  great earnestness  that  he  might escape punishment  at school.  He later  on did so well  with  his  studies that  he went to  Carthage  in  370 when he was still  17.  He  studied  rhetoric with  eagerness  and  pleasure; but  his motives  were  vanity  and  ambition, and  to  them  he  joined loose living.

 

Years away from Christ

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At  Carthage,  he entered into  relations  with  a  woman  (to  whom  he remained  faithful  until  he sent her  away from  him 15 years  later). She bore  him  a son, Adeodatus,  in 372.  His father had  died  in 371, but  he  continued  at  Carthage  and  switched  to philosophy  and  the search  for the  truth. He  also  studied  the  Scriptures  but  from  a subjective attitude.  He was  offended  with the  simplicity  of  style, and  could  not relish their  humility or  penetrate their  spirit. Then he  fell into  Manichaeism  -  a  combination  of  pagan  religions  and philosophy. 

Introduction

 

     "And Thou, O  Lord, how long?  How long? Is  it to be tomorrow and tomorrow? Why  not now? Why not this  very hour put an end  to shame?"

 

These  words  of  repentance  marked the  beginning of  Augustine's  new life. A  few  years after  he  came in contact with  God, he  said, "Our hearts, O Lord, were  made  for  you,  and they  are restless  until the rest in you."

 

Saint Augustine  is  one  of  the  greatest  Fathers  of the  Church. He was  an   original  thinker who   became  recognized  as  a  remarkable leader  of  Christian  faith.  One  of  the  guiding  forces in  Saint Augustine's life was his Christian mother, Saint Monica.

His Childhood and Youth

-------------------——----

Saint Augustine,  who  used commonly  to  be  called Austin  in English, was born  on November 13, 354 at  Tagaste,  a small  town of Numidia  in north  Africa,  not  far  from  Hippo.  His  father,  Patricius,  was  a pagan  and  of  a  violent  disposition;  but  through the  example  and prudent  conduct of his wife,  Saint  Monica, he  was baptized a  little before his death.

 

As a  child, Saint  Monica  instructed  him in  the  Christian  religion and  taught  him  how  to  pray;  falling  dangerously  ill,  he desired baptism  and his mother  got  everything  ready for it:  but he suddenly grew better, and it was put off.

 

His  father wanted him  to  become  a  man  of learning  and cared  very little  about  his   character.  In  his  writings,   Augustine  accuses himself of  often  studying  by constraint, disobeying  his  parents and masters,  not  writing,  reading,  or  minding  his  lessons so much  as was required of him; and this he  did not  for lack  of  wit or  memory, but  out  of   love  of  play.   But   he  prayed  to  God   with  great earnestness  that  he  might escape punishment  at school.  He later  on did so well  with  his  studies that  he went to  Carthage  in  370 when he was still  17.  He  studied  rhetoric with  eagerness  and  pleasure; but  his motives  were  vanity  and  ambition, and  to  them  he  joined loose living.

 

Years away from Christ

----------------------

At  Carthage,  he entered into  relations  with  a  woman  (to  whom  he remained  faithful  until  he sent her  away from  him 15 years  later). She bore  him  a son, Adeodatus,  in 372.  His father had  died  in 371, but  he  continued  at  Carthage  and  switched  to philosophy  and  the search  for the  truth. He  also  studied  the  Scriptures  but  from  a subjective attitude.  He was  offended  with the  simplicity  of  style, and  could  not relish their  humility or  penetrate their  spirit. Then he  fell into  Manichaeism  -  a  combination  of  pagan  religions  and philosophy. 

Introduction

——————-

     "And Thou, O  Lord, how long?  How long? Is  it to be tomorrow and tomorrow? Why  not now? Why not this  very hour put an end  to shame?"

 

These  words  of  repentance  marked the  beginning of  Augustine's  new life. A  few  years after  he  came in contact with  God, he  said, "Our hearts, O Lord, were  made  for  you,  and they  are restless  until the rest in you."

 

Saint Augustine  is  one  of  the  greatest  Fathers  of the  Church. He was  an   original  thinker who   became  recognized  as  a  remarkable leader  of  Christian  faith.  One  of  the  guiding  forces in  Saint Augustine's life was his Christian mother, Saint Monica.