The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2) — John Shaqi
The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2)Origen
Religion
The writings of Origen, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Origen
Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
Demetrius did not long survive the execution of his vengeance against
his unfortunate catechist. He died about a year afterwards, and was
succeeded by Heraclas, the friend and former pupil of Origen. It does
not, however, appear that Heraclas made any effort to have the sentence
against Origen recalled, so that he might return to the early seat of
his labours. Origen devoted himself at Cæsarea chiefly to exegetical
studies upon the books of Scripture, enjoying the countenance and
friendship of the two bishops Alexander and Theoctistus, who are said by
Eusebius “to have attended him the whole time as pupils do their
master.” He speedily raised the theological school of that city to a
degree of reputation which attracted many pupils. Among those who placed
themselves under his instructions were two young Cappadocians, who had
come to Cæsarea with other intentions, but who were so attracted by the
whole character and personality of Origen, that they immediately became
his pupils. The former of these, afterwards Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop
of New Cæsarea, has left us, in the panegyric which he wrote after a
discipleship of five years, a full and admiring account of the method of
his great master.
The persecution under the Emperor Maximin obliged Origen to take refuge
in Cæsarea in Cappadocia, where he remained in concealment about two
years in the house of a Christian lady named Juliana, who was the
heiress of Symmachus, the Ebionite translator of the Septuagint, and
from whom he obtained several MSS. which had belonged to him. Here,
also, he composed his _Exhortation to Martyrdom_, which was expressly
written for the sake of his friends Ambrosius and Protoctetus, who had
been imprisoned on account of their Christian profession, but who
recovered their freedom after the death of Maximin,—an event which
allowed Origen to return to the Palestinian Cæsarea and to the
prosecution of his labours. A visit to Athens, where he seems to have
remained some time, and to Bostra in Arabia, in order to bring back to
the true faith Bishop Beryllus, who had expressed heterodox opinions
upon the subject of the divinity of Christ, and in which attempt he
proved successful, were the chief events of his life during the next
five years. On the outbreak of the Decian persecution, however, in 249,
he was imprisoned at Tyre, to which city he had gone from Cæsarea for
some unknown reason, and was made to suffer great cruelties by his
persecutors. The effect of these upon a frame worn out by ascetic
labours may be easily conceived. Although he survived his imprisonment,
his body was so weakened by his sufferings, that he died at Tyre in 254,
in the seventieth year of his age.
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