Aurelius of Carthage
Bishop of Carthage, c. 391-429
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 |
| Feast | July 20 |
Life
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 at 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.