He was the Bishop of Hippo Regius (modern day Algeria) and so upon canonization (when he was declared a saint) he was known as St. Augustine of Hippo.

A highly knowledgeable and accomplished man, he was a theologian and philosopher and his writings influenced western philosophy and the Christian religion. Most important works include His many important works include The City of God, On Christian Doctrine, and his autobiography Confessions.

Augustine was from the beginning a brilliant student, mastered Latin but refused to study Greek as he rebelled against the teacher. He nevertheless became a teacher and established a school in Rome. Later, aged 30, he moved to Milan as a rhetoric professor where he had won the most visible academic position in the Latin world at a time when such posts gave ready access to political careers. Because of his education, Augustine had great rhetorical prowess and was very knowledgeable of the philosophies behind many faiths. He was ordained a priest and later a bishop and became a famous preacher having proof in more than 350 preserved sermons of his. He died on 28 August 430 AD, a date which we celebrate as his Feast Day.

The bones of his right arm were secured from his burial place in Pavia and now rests in Saint Augustine Basilica in Annaba Algeria, inserted into a life size marble statue of the saint, enclosed in a glass case, visible to the public.

Trivia : While St. Augustine of Hippo is indeed synonymous with education and schooling, our Founder C.R.Gasper’s father was Augustine Gasper.