A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

a8 ORIGENES. ORIGENES.
us to assign to Origen's removal the date A. D. Demetrius against Origen from his JEcclsiaestizcs
216. At Caesareia he received the most respectful gHistory, on the ground that they were related in
treatment. Though not yet ordained to the priest- the Defence of Origen (T'rep'Qpt-yEovs drroxoyea,
hood, he was invited to expound the Scriptures, Apologia pro Origene) drawn up by Pamphilus and
and to discourse publicly in the church. Theo- Eusebius; and the loss of this defence has deprived
ctistus, bishop of Caesareia, and Alexander, bishop us of the most trustworthy account of these transof Jerusalem, the latter of whom had been a fellow- actions. However, we learn from Photius, who
student of Origen, were among the prelates at has preserved (Bibl. Cod. 118) a notice of the lost
whose invitation he was induced thus to come for- work, that a council of Egyptian prelates and presward: and when Demetrius of Alexandria, who byters was held by Demetrius, in which it was
was growing jealous of Origen, objected to it as determined that Origen slould leave Alexandria,
all unheard of irregularity, that a layman should and not be allowed either to reside or to teach
preach before bishops, they vindicated him by there. His office of Catechist devolved or was
citing several precedents. It was perhaps during bestowed on his colleague Heraclas. His ordiniathis visit to Palestine that Origen rmet with one of tion, however, was not invalidated, and indeed the
the Greek versions of the Old Testament, the passage in Photius seems to imply that the counEditio Quinta or Sexta, which he published in his cil expressly decided that he should retain his
Ifexapla, and which is said to have been found in priesthood. But Demetrius -was determined that
a wine jar at Jericho. He returned to Alexandria, he should not retain it; and, in conjunction with
apparently about the end of Caracalla's reign, at certain Egyptian prelates, creatures, it would apthe desire of Demetrius, who sent some deacons of pear, of his own, he pronounced his degradation.
his church to hasten him home (Euseb. HI. E. vi. Origen had probably, before this second sentence,
19). Ile returned with zeal to the discharge of retired from Alexandria into Palestine, where he
his office of Catechist, and to the diligent pursuit of was welcomed and protected, and where he taught
his biblical labours. and preached with great reputation. It was, perHis next journey was into Greece. Eusebius haps, mortification at having failed to crush Origen
(H. E. vi. 23) describes the occasion in general that led Demetrius to take the further step of exterms, as being ecclesiastical business, but Rufinus communicating him. and to write to the bishops of
(In versione Eusebii, 1. c.) and Jerome (De Vir. all parts of the world to obtain their concurrence in
Illustr. c. 54) more exactly describe the object as the sentence. Such was the deference already paid
being the refutation of heretics who were increasing to the see of Alexandria, and to the decision of the
there. Passing through Palestine on his way, he Egyptian bishops, that, except in Palestine and
was ordained presbyter by his friends, Theoctistus the adjacent countries, Arabia and Phoenicia, in
and Alexander, and the other bishops of that pro- Greece, and perhaps in Cappadocia, where Origen
vince, at Caesareia. This aroused again the jealousy was personally known and respected, the condenlof Demotrius, and led to a decisive rupture between nation appears to have obtained general assent.
him and Origen, who, however, completed his jour- Even the bishop and clergy of Rome joined in the
ney, in the course of which he probably met with a general cry. (Hieron. Epist. 29, ed. Benedict., 33,
Greek version of the 0. T. (the Sexta or Quinta ed. Vallars. and apud Rufin. Iznvectiv. ii. 19, ed.
Editio of his IIexapla), which had been discovered Vallars.) It is probable that Origen's unpopuby one of his friends at Nicopolis, in Epeirus, near larity arose from the obnoxious character of some
the Promontory of Actium, on the Ambracian Gulf of his opinions, and was increased by the circurn(Synopsis Sacrae Scripturae, Athanasio adscripta). stance that even in his life-time (I-Iieron. In Rfira.
Possibly it was on this journey that Origen had the ii. 18) his writings were seriously corrupted. It
interview with Mammaea, mother of the emperor appears also that the indiscretion of Ambrositns had
Alexander Severus, mentioned by Eusebius (H. IE. published some things which were not designed for
vi. 21). Mammaeawas led by the curiosity which general perusal. (Hieron. Epist. 65, ed. vett., 41,
Origen's great reputation had excited, to solicit an ed. Benedict., 84, ed. Vallars. c. 10.) But what was
interview with him when she was at Antioch. the specific ground of his exile, deposition, and exTillemont places this interview at an earlier period, communication is not clear; it is probable that the
A. D. 218, Huet in A. D. 223; but the date is immediate and only alleged ground was the irregualtogether uncertain. The journey of Origen into larity of his ordination; and that whatever things in
Greece is placed by Eusebius, as we understand the his writings were capable of being used to his prepassage, in the episcopate of Pontianus at Rome, judice, were employed to excite odium against him,
which extended from A. D. 230, or, according to and so to obtain general concurrence in the proother accounts, from 233 to 235, and of Zebinus at ceedings of his opponents. Possibly the story of
Antioch from A. D. 228 to 237; but Tillemont and his apostasy, mentioned by Epiphanius, was circuIIuet interpret the passage so as to fix the ordina- lated at the same time, and for the same object.
tion of Origen in A. D. 228, about the time when Origen was, meanwhile, secure at Caesareia,
Zebinus of Antioch succeeded Philetus. We are where he preached almost daily in the church. Ie
disposed to place it in A. D. 230. wrote a letter in vindication of himself to sonle
On his return to Alexandria, he had to encounter friends at Alexandria, in which he complains of
the open enmity of Demetrius. The remembrance the falsification of his writinos. According to
of incidents of the former part of his life was Jerome (in Rufin. ii. 1 ), he severely handled
revived and turned to his disadvantage. His self- (laceret) Demetrius, and "inveighed against (inlmutilation, which had been excused at the time, vehatur) the bishops and clergy of the whole
was now urged against him; and a passage in world," expressing his disregard of theirexcommuEpiphanius (Hueres. lxiv. 2) gives reason to think nication of him: but from some quotations from
that a charge of having offered incense to heathen the letter it appears to have been written in a
deities was also brought against him. Eusebius milder and more forgiving spirit than Jerome's
has omitted the account of the steps taken by description would,lead us to expect. Demetrius