Origen’s Rash Deed

At this time, while Origen was carrying on the work of instructing converts at Alexandria, he did something that showed an immature and youthful mind, yet held the greatest proof of faith and chastity as well. He took the saying, “There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven,” too simply and too youthfully. He thought he would at once fulfill the Savior’s word and, at the same time, shut out every suspicion of shameful slander among the unbelievers, since he was young and spoke of divine things not with men only but with women too. So he set out to carry out the Savior’s word in deeds. [a] He took care to escape the notice of most of his acquaintances. But it was not possible for him, though he wished it, to hide so great a deed. When Demetrius, as head of the church there, learned of it later, he greatly marveled at him for his daring; but he welcomed his eagerness and the genuineness of his faith, urged him to take courage, and pressed him now all the more to keep to the work of instruction.

That is how Demetrius was at that time. But not long afterward, seeing Origen prosper and become great and brilliant and renowned among all, the same man was overcome by a human weakness. He tried to write to the bishops throughout the world that the deed was utterly out of place — this at the time when the bishops of Caesarea and Jerusalem, the most esteemed and distinguished in Palestine, judged Origen worthy of the privileges of seniority and of the highest honor, and laid hands on him to make him a presbyter. [c] So, since Origen had by then risen to great fame and had won a name among all people everywhere and no small renown for virtue and wisdom, Demetrius, having no other charge to bring, made a terrible slander out of the act done long before, when he was a boy, and dared to include in his accusations those who had advanced him to the presbyterate. These things, however, happened a little later. At this time Origen at Alexandria carried on the work of divine teaching, night and day, for all who came to him without holding back, devoting all his leisure tirelessly to divine studies and to those who came to learn from him. [e]

Severus had held power for eighteen years when his son Antoninus succeeded him. At that time one of those who had shown courage in the persecution, and who after the contests of confession had been preserved by the providence of God, was Alexander, whom we have just mentioned as bishop of the church in Jerusalem. Because he was distinguished by his confessions for Christ, he was counted worthy of that bishopric while Narcissus, his predecessor, was still alive. [f]