Aurelius Augustine (Blessed in the Orthodox tradition and Teacher of Grace in the Catholic) is an outstanding philosopher, one of the founders of Christian theology. He was born in 354 in Numidia into the family of a Roman pagan citizen, but his mother Monica was a Christian. Since the family was quite prosperous, 17-year-old Aurelius was sent to study rhetoric in Carthage. There, the future apologist for the new religion fell in love with the woman with whom he lived for 13 years. She became the mother of his son, Adeodate. However, due to the difference in social origin, Augustine never married her.
While still studying rhetoric, St. Augustine became interested in philosophy. He accepted Manichaeism, but soon departed from the teachings of Mani. The spiritual searches and influence of his mother brought him to the fold of the Christian faith. In search of work, the young rhetoric leaves the African province of the Roman Empire and in 384 finds a position as a teacher of oratory in Mediolana (present-day Milan). Having settled near the city in the Villa Cassiciacum, the philosopher created his first significant works: “Against Academics”, “On the Immortality of the Soul”, “On True Religion” and “On Free Will”. This first stage of creativity is marked by the great influence of Platonism on the theologian’s thought.
After the Easter of St. Augustine 387, St. Augustine was baptized in Mediolanus by Saint Ambrose, the second period of the work of the Christian apologist began. He sold his property, distributed almost everything to the poor, and went with his mother to Africa. But in Ostia, Monica died. Arriving in his hometown of Tagastu, the philosopher founded a religious community of monks. Therefore, he is considered the founder of the monastic order of the Augustinians. During this period, works were written devoted to religious, church and exegetical issues (“On the Book of Genesis”), interpretations of the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, treatises against donatists. Then came the glorification of the theologian "Confession."
The third period (410-430) is called the most fruitful, when the scientist was first elevated to the rank of presbyter and later bishop of Hippo (city of the Roman Empire in North Africa). It was then that St. Augustine's philosophy reached its highest development. The theologian seems to look back at his former beliefs and evaluate them critically (“Revision”). The questions of Christology (the human or divine nature of Christ) are reflected in the works “On the Trinity” and the cycle of treatises against Pelagius. The most significant work of the theologian is considered the work "De civitate Dei" - "On the City of God."
In the 22 books of this work, the theologian for the first time tries to analyze the entire historical process, to understand the meaning and purpose of human society and the ways of its development. Therefore, Augustine is considered the founder of the philosophy of history. The society is as connected with the Kingdom of God as a person (creation) with the Creator. However, because of the fall of Adam, mankind is largely separated from God, but can return to Him by the grace of the Lord, says St. Augustine. The philosophy of this theologian considers the development of society as a progressive movement from the vale of sorrow into which Adam and Eve were expelled through the City of Earth (state) to the City of Heaven (where eternity and moral perfection reign).
Thus, St. Augustine considers history in terms of linear time. This is a segment when there is a duration, for there is no time in Eternity. God leads the story - everything that happens is included in the plans and intentions of the Creator. The state in this sense acts as a necessary stage of development. Based on the study of Holy Scripture, the philosopher identifies 7 eras of the development of society: the first five are the history of the Jewish people before Christ. Now the sixth era lasts, which should end with the Last Judgment, after which the seventh step described in Revelation of John will begin, when all the righteous will forever dwell in Heavenly Jerusalem. The society of people in its development moves from a secular state to a theocratic, ruled by the princes of the Church. This teaching of Augustine was taken as a basis by the Roman Catholic Church in the struggle for investiture.