Origen Made a Presbyter

From that time, too, Origen began his commentaries on the divine Scriptures. Ambrose urged him on, not only with countless exhortations and encouragements in words, but also by supplying most generously all that was needed. [a] For as he dictated, he had more than seven shorthand writers on hand, who relieved one another at fixed times, and no fewer copyists, along with girls trained in fine handwriting. Ambrose supplied the abundant means needed for all of these. More than that, he brought to Origen an inexpressible eagerness of his own in the study of the divine oracles and zeal for them, and by this above all he urged him on to compose the commentaries. [b]

While this was going on, Urban, who had been bishop of the Roman church for eight years, was succeeded by Pontian, and in the church of Antioch Zebennus succeeded Philetus. [c] In their time Origen, setting out for Greece on account of a pressing need in church affairs, went by way of Palestine, and at Caesarea received the laying on of hands as a presbyter from the bishops there. What was stirred up about him on this account, and what the heads of the churches decided about the matters stirred up, together with all the other things he contributed to the divine word in the prime of his life, would need a work of their own. We have written of them in some measure in the second book of the Defense we have composed on his behalf. [d]