St. Augustine Biography

Saint Augustine, also known as Augustine of Hippo, was a bishop of Hippo Regius in Northern Africa. He was an ancient Christian theologian who played a significant role in the development of early Western philosophy, marked by the merging of Greek philosophy and Judeo-Christian religious traditions. He had an intellectual bent and was fascinated by philosophical inquiry, spending his early life exploring various philosophical and religious theories. Even though regarded as one of the foremost figures of Western Christianity, he had not converted to Christianity until he was 31 years old. He was greatly influenced by Manichaeism, though later his interests shifted to Neo-Platonism. After years of confusion, he read the Holy Scriptures and became convinced that he could attain salvation only through Jesus Christ. Upon his conversion to Christianity, he began developing his own theories on philosophy and theology, which left a profound impact on the medieval worldview. In recognition of his contribution to Christian doctrine, he was given the title of Doctor of the Church. He is considered a saint by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches and is the patron saint of brewers, printers, and theologians. Such is his impact on Western religion that his works, like Confessions and City of God, are widely read even today.