Leonides, the Father of Origen

Leonides, the father of Origen, was, according to the testimony of Suidas, a bishop of the church of Christ, and he also became a martyr, at Alexandria in Egypt. His imprisonment, suffering, and death happened in this way. When Christian champions, that is, martyrs, were brought from nearly all the cities and villages of Egypt and Thebes, to fight and suffer for the name of Jesus Christ, Leonides was also one of those brought as prisoners to Alexandria, the capital of Egypt.

When he had been in prison for some time, his son Origen, then only seventeen years old, sent him a very comforting letter, in which he urged him to stand firm, writing, among other things

"Be strong in the Lord, my father, and endure bravely the suffering that awaits you. Do not let concern for us lead you to do otherwise." He means to say: "O father! do not grieve too much for your wife, or dear mother, or for us, your seven beloved children, of whom I am the oldest; or become so wavering that out of longing for us you would forsake your faithful God and Savior." This, in brief, was the substance of the letter which Origen wrote to his father. It acted as a healing medicine on the wounds of his father's sorrowful mind, so that he resolved to patiently suffer death for the honor of his Savior. He was finally sentenced to be beheaded, and all his property was confiscated for the treasury of the Roman Empire. This happened in the time of Emperor Severus, about the year 201. Compare Euseb., book 6, chapter 2, with Abr. Mell., 1st book of the Hist., folio 57, column 1, ex Hieron. Catal. in Orag. [n176-1] Also, P. J. Twisck, Chron., 2nd book, for the year 195, page 51, column 2. Also, Introduction to the Martyrs' Mirror, edition

1631, folio 38, column 2. Also, Joh. Gys. Hist. Mart., edition 1657, folio 3.