Mamaea Sends for Origen

Antoninus reigned seven years and six months, and Macrinus succeeded him. He lasted a year, and then another Antoninus took over the rule of the Romans. In his first year the Roman bishop Zephyrinus departed this life, having held the ministry for eighteen full years. After him Callistus was entrusted with the office of bishop. [a] He lived on for five years and left the ministry to Urban. After these things the emperor Alexander succeeded to the rule of the Romans, the second Antoninus having lasted only four years. At this time Philetus also succeeded Asclepiades in the church of Antioch. [b]

The emperor’s mother, named Mamaea, was a most God-fearing woman if ever there was one. Since the fame of Origen was resounding everywhere and had come even to her ears, she set great store on being granted a sight of the man and on testing his understanding of divine things, which all admired. [c] So while she was staying at Antioch, she summoned him with a military escort. He stayed with her for some time and showed her a great many things for the glory of the Lord and the excellence of the divine school, and then hurried back to his usual work. [d]