Aurelius Augustinus of Hypon is one of the most important personalities in the development of Western Christianity. In Roman Catholicism, he is a saint and Father of the Church, as well as a patron of the Augustine Monastic Order. In the Western Christian thought, Augustine is known as one of the Fathers of the Church and is considered by the Researchers as a Master of the West. A number of philosophers and theologians are influenced by his teachings. His works (including "Confessions" - often considered the first western autobiography) are still widely read in the world.
Manichaean period - Unfortunately for his mother, Augustine joins the Manichean heresy. As a youngster, Augustine lives hedonistically for some time and has a love affair with a woman who remains his mistress for about 15 years. A son named Adeodate was born to him. Augustine's education and early career is in the field of philosophy and rhetoric - the art of persuasion and public speaking. He teaches in Tagash and Carthage, but wishes to travel to Rome, where he believes he is practicing some of the best rhetoric. But Augustine is disappointed with the Roman schools and finds them apathetic. When the time for paying the school fees comes, students just go. His Manichaean friends introduced him to Rome's prefect named Symah, who had the task of finding a professor of rhetoric for the imperial court in Milan. The young Provincialist won the place and went north to take over in 384. At age thirty, Augustine won the most prominent academic position in the Latin world. The epoch is such that such posts have enabled a good political career. In his post, he senses the tension of life. One day on his way to the Emperor to make an important speech, Augustine complains that the drunken beggar he passed by on the road had less exhausting life than he.
Neo-Platonic period - His mother tried to force him to become a Catholic, but Bishop of Milan Ambrose had the greatest impact on Augustine. Ambrusius was a master in rhetoric, just like Augustine, but he was older and more experienced. Influenced in part by Ambrose's sermons, some additional studies, and a disappointing encounter with a typical representative of Manichean theology, Augustine gave up Manichaeism. But instead of becoming a Catholic like Ambrose and his mother Monica, he turned to pagan neo-Platonism. For some time he himself performed for personal spiritual progress, but eventually he completed this spiritual journey, skewed into skepticism. His mother escorted him to Milan and he allowed her to marry him, in which he left his mistress (after he waited two years for his fiancé to be mature, probably had another woman at that time).
Christian period - In the summer of 386, when he read about the life of St. Anthony a desert and was very inspired, Augustine experienced a profound internal crisis and decided to really turn to Christianity. He abandoned his career in rhetoric, abandoned his teaching activities in Milan, renounced his marriage, and devoted himself entirely to the ministry of God and the priesthood, which included celibacy (denial of marriage). A key moment in his turn is the voice of a child who calls "take and read." At that moment, Augustine had accidentally opened the Bible of Romans 13, verse 13. In his "Confessions," he dealt in detail on his spiritual journey. Confessions become a classic of Christian theology and world literature. Ambrose named Augustine with his son, Adept of the Resurrection of Christ in 387, and shortly afterward, Augustine returned to Africa in 388. On his way to his homeland, his mother died, and Augustine remained relatively alone without a family.