Simplician
Encyclopedia
Simplician or Simplicianus was Archbishop of Milan from 397 to 400 (or 401). He is honoured as a Saint
in the Catholic Church and his feast day is August 14.
and still young he became a churchman. He became expert in the Holy Scripture
and very educated. In about 355 he took an active part in the conversion to Christianity of the philosopher Marius Victorinus. When in 374 Ambrose
was elected bishop of Milan and baptized, Simplician became his teacher of doctrine. Ambrose used to call Simplican with the name father, as a sign of spiritual relationship. Probably in this period Simplician moved to Milan
where he remained.
Simplican took also a active part in the conversions of both Alypius of Thagaste
and Augustine of Hippo
. The meeting between Augustine and Simplican occurred in Milan in 386 and it is recorded in Augustine's Confessions
. After his conversion, also Augustine referred to Simplican as father, and in 397 he dedicated to Simplican two books on the issue of predestination
, known as De Diversis Quaestionibus ad Simplicianum.
On his death bed Ambrose supported Simplician as own successor, stating that Simplician was "old but good". Thus in April 397 the old Simplician was elected bishop of Milan, at that time capital of the Western Roman Empire
. The more important act of his episcopate was the receipt in Milan of the relics of the three martyrs Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander, sent from Trento
by the bishop Vigilius
.
Simplician was asked to judge some doctrinal statements by the Council of Carthage of 397
and by the First Council of Toledo
. He also consecrated bishop Gaudentius of Novara
and, according to the 13th-century writer Goffredo of Bussero, he organized the texts of the Ambrosian liturgy
.
Simplician's feast day was anciently set on 15 August, together with the feast of the translation to Milan of the relics of Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander; so his death was deemed to has been the 15 August 400, but probably Simplician died between the end of 400 and the first half of 401. Simplician's feast day was later moved to the 16 August not to collide with the Assumption of Mary
, and with the reform of the Ambrosian Rite
that occurred after the Second Vatican Council
his feast day was moved to 14 August.
Simplican was initially buried in the church of Saint Nabor and Felix
in Milan and later translated, perhaps on the 15 August, in the Basilica Virginum ("Basilica of the Virgins") which was renamed in his honor and now it is known as Basilica of St. Simplician
.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in the Catholic Church and his feast day is August 14.
Life
Simplician was born about 320 probably in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and still young he became a churchman. He became expert in the Holy Scripture
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and very educated. In about 355 he took an active part in the conversion to Christianity of the philosopher Marius Victorinus. When in 374 Ambrose
Ambrose
Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose , was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was one of the four original doctors of the Church.-Political career:Ambrose was born into a Roman Christian family between about...
was elected bishop of Milan and baptized, Simplician became his teacher of doctrine. Ambrose used to call Simplican with the name father, as a sign of spiritual relationship. Probably in this period Simplician moved to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
where he remained.
Simplican took also a active part in the conversions of both Alypius of Thagaste
Alypius of Thagaste
Saint Alypius of Thagaste was bishop of the see of Tagaste in 394. He is also credited with building the first monastery in Africa. He was a lifelong friend of Saint Augustine of Hippo and joined him in his conversion and life in Christianity. He came from an aristrocratic family and his early...
and Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
. The meeting between Augustine and Simplican occurred in Milan in 386 and it is recorded in Augustine's Confessions
Confessions (St. Augustine)
Confessions is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of 13 books, by St. Augustine of Hippo, written between AD 397 and AD 398. Modern English translations of it are sometimes published under the title The Confessions of St...
. After his conversion, also Augustine referred to Simplican as father, and in 397 he dedicated to Simplican two books on the issue of predestination
Predestination
Predestination, in theology is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted biblical predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation for others...
, known as De Diversis Quaestionibus ad Simplicianum.
On his death bed Ambrose supported Simplician as own successor, stating that Simplician was "old but good". Thus in April 397 the old Simplician was elected bishop of Milan, at that time capital of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
. The more important act of his episcopate was the receipt in Milan of the relics of the three martyrs Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander, sent from Trento
Trento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
by the bishop Vigilius
Vigilius of Trent
Saint Vigilius of Trent is venerated as the patron saint and first bishop of Trent. He should not be confused with the pope of the same name. According to tradition, he was a Roman patrician and was the son of Maxentia and a man whose name is sometimes given as Theodosius.His brothers, Claudian...
.
Simplician was asked to judge some doctrinal statements by the Council of Carthage of 397
Councils of Carthage
Councils of Carthage, also referred to as Synods of Carthage were church synods held during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries in the town of Carthage in Africa...
and by the First Council of Toledo
First Council of Toledo
The First Council of Toledo was held in Toledo, Spain, from September 7, 397 to 400. Its primary purpose was to condemn the Priscillian heresy and uphold the Nicene Creed. It would be another 127 years before a council met again in Toledo. 19 Hispanic bishops were participants, including Lampius,...
. He also consecrated bishop Gaudentius of Novara
Gaudentius of Novara
Saint Gaudentius was a bishop of Novara, considered the first of that city. Tradition states that he was born to a pagan family at Ivrea, and was then converted to Christianity by Eusebius of Vercelli...
and, according to the 13th-century writer Goffredo of Bussero, he organized the texts of the Ambrosian liturgy
Ambrosian Rite
Ambrosian Rite, also called the Milanese Rite, is a Catholic liturgical Western Rite. The rite is named after Saint Ambrose, a bishop of Milan in the fourth century...
.
Simplician's feast day was anciently set on 15 August, together with the feast of the translation to Milan of the relics of Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander; so his death was deemed to has been the 15 August 400, but probably Simplician died between the end of 400 and the first half of 401. Simplician's feast day was later moved to the 16 August not to collide with the Assumption of Mary
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
, and with the reform of the Ambrosian Rite
Ambrosian Rite
Ambrosian Rite, also called the Milanese Rite, is a Catholic liturgical Western Rite. The rite is named after Saint Ambrose, a bishop of Milan in the fourth century...
that occurred after the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
his feast day was moved to 14 August.
Simplican was initially buried in the church of Saint Nabor and Felix
Nabor and Felix
Saints Nabor and Felix were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. A tomb in Milan is believed to contain their relics.In the apocryphal "Acts of Saints Nabor and Felix" Saints Nabor and Felix were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. A tomb in Milan is believed...
in Milan and later translated, perhaps on the 15 August, in the Basilica Virginum ("Basilica of the Virgins") which was renamed in his honor and now it is known as Basilica of St. Simplician
Basilica of San Simpliciano
The Basilica of San Simpliciano is a church in the centre of Milan, northern Italy, the second oldest in the form of a Latin cross, first erected by Saint Ambrose. It is dedicated to Saint Simplician, bishop of Milan.-History:...
.