Saint Ambrose and His Four Basilicas Guarding the Faith of Mediolanum

When Saint Ambrose arrived in Mediolanum - the Roman Milano - the local churches were in conflict with each other on the Arianism and the Nicene Creed. Ambrose was firmly in support of the Nicene side of the conflict, acting for it by preaching and building new churches. He planned carefully the location of them, outside the town, near the gates corresponding to main roads arriving in Milan from the four quarters of the surrounding territory. In this manner, he creates four sites that acted as strong guardians of the Roman faith in his town.