Ambrose was attracted by Origen's fame as a teacher, and visited the
Catechetical School of Alexandria in 212. At first a
gnostic Valentinian and
Marcionist, Ambrose, through Origen's teaching, eventually rejected this theology and became Origen's constant companion, and was ordained
deacon. He plied Origen with questions, and urged him to write his Commentaries (treating him as "" in
Commentary on John V,1) on the books of the
Bible, and, as a wealthy nobleman and courtier, Origen often speaks of Ambrose affectionately as a man of education with excellent literary and scholarly tastes. All of Origen's works written after 218 are dedicated to Ambrose, including his
Contra Celsum, ''Commentary on St. John's Gospel
, and On Prayer''. Ambrose's letters to Origen (praised by
Jerome) are lost, although part of one exists. He suffered during the persecution under the Roman emperor
Maximinus Thrax in 235, which led Origen to write his
Exhortation to Martyrdom, addressed to Ambrose and a priest of
Caesarea named Protoctetus. He was later released and died a
confessor. The last mention of Ambrose in the historical record is in Origen's
Contra Celsum, which the latter wrote at the solicitation of Ambrose. ==Veneration==