Jerome, Illustrious Men 54.1-21
https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/287
Context
Among his many works, St. Jerome wrote a catalog of renowned thinkers
of the Roman world during the first years after his move from Rome to Bethlehem. In
mostly brief sketches he describes the intellectual achievements, particularly writings,
of 135 men, many leaders in the early Church. In his life of Origen, he portrays the
early career of Origen at Alexandria, including his work in the catechetical program and
visit to Caesarea in 216 C.E.
Text
Origenes, qui et
Adamantius, decimo Severi Pertinacis anno adversum Christianos persecutione commota, a
Leonide patre Christi martyrio coronato cum sex fratribus et matre vidua pauper relinquitur
annos natus circiter decem et septem; rem enim familiarem ob confessionem Christi fiscus
occupaverat. Hic Alexandriae dispersa ecclesia octavo decimo aetatis suae anno κατηχήσεων
opus adgressus, postea a Demetrio, eiusdem urbis episcopo, in locum Clementis presbyteri
confirmatus, per multos annos floruit, et cum iam mediae esset aetatis et propter ecclesias
Achaiae, quae plurimis heresibus vexabantur, sub testimonio ecclesiasticae epistulae,
Athenas per Palestinam pergeret, a Theoctisto et Alexandro, Caesareae
et Hierosolymorum episcopis, presbyter ordinatus Demetrii offendit animos, qui tanta
adversus eum debacchatus insania est, ut per totum orbem super nomine eius scriberet.
Constat eum, antequam Caesaream migraret, fuisse Romae sub Zepherino
episcopo, et statim Alexandriam reversum Heraclam presbyterum, qui in habitu philosophi
perseverabat, adiutorem sibi fecisse κατηχήσεων qui quidem et post Demetrium Alexandrinam
tenuit ecclesiam.
1
Textual Note
Ed. Bernoulli 1895Corrigenda Note
Minor corr.Translation
Origen, also known as
Adamantius [Man of Steel], when a persecution was raised against the Christians in the tenth
year of Severus Pertinax [203/4 C.E.], was left in poverty around the age of 17 with six
brothers and a widowed mother by his father, Leonidas, who wore the crown of Christian
martyrdom, for their estate had been confiscated over his confession of Christ. When he was
18 years old, he undertook the job of the Catechetical School in the scattered church of
Alexandria. He was later appointed by Demetrius, bishop of this city, as presbyter to
replace Clement, and he enjoyed success for many years. When he had reached middle age,
because the churches of Achaia were distressed by many heresies, he travelled to Athens by
way of Palestine under the authority of an ecclesiastical letter. (Origen’s) ordination as a
presbyter by Theoctistus and Alexander, the bishops of Caesarea and
Jerusalem, was an insult to Demetrius in his mind. He became so raving mad at Origen that he
sent letters across the whole world concerning (Origen’s) reputation. It is known that,
before he went to Caesarea, (Origen) had been at Rome under the
bishop Zephyrinus. Immediately on his return to Alexandria he made the presbyter Heraclas,
who continued to wear his philosopher’s garb, his assistant at the Catechetical School.
(Heraclas) is the one who led the Church of Alexandria after Demetrius.
2
Translation Note
Adapted from Schaff 1892 and Halton 1999Discussion Note
κατηχήσεων (syntax requires genitive of κατηχήσεις) refers to the Church’s educational program, catechesis.Works Cited
- 1 Jerome, De Viris Inlustribus: Machine Readable Text, ed. Carl Albrecht Bernoulli (Madison, WI: Google; University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2009), p: 32-33, line: 1-21.
- 2 Jerome, Saint Jerome: On Illustrious Men, trans. Thomas P. Halton, The Fathers of the Church: A New Translation (Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1999), p: 77-78, ch: 54.1-4.
How to Cite This Entry
Joseph L. Rife, “Jerome, Illustrious Men 54.1-21,” in Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, entry published June 30, 2023, https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/287.
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Bibliography:
Joseph L. Rife, “Jerome, Illustrious Men 54.1-21.” In Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, edited by Joseph L. Rife., edited by Joseph L. Rife. Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project, 2023. Entry published June 30, 2023. https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/287.About this Entry
Entry Title: Jerome, Illustrious Men 54.1-21
Authorial and Editorial Responsibility:
- Joseph L. Rife, general editor, Vanderbilt University
- Joseph L. Rife, editor, Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia
- David A. Michelson, Daniel L. Schwartz, and William L. Potter, technical editor, “Jerome, Illustrious Men 54.1-21”
- Joseph L. Rife, entry contributor, “Jerome, Illustrious Men 54.1-21”
Additional Credit:
- TEI encoding by William L. Potter
- Electronic text added by Joseph L. Rife
- Testimonia identified by Joseph L. Rife