Dionysius succeeds Heraclas in the Episcopate.

IN the third year of this emperor, Heraclas died, having held his office for sixteen years, and Dionysius (2) received the episcopate of the churches of Alexandria.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Other Works of Origen.

AT this time, as the faith extended and our doctrine was proclaimed boldly before all, (1) Origen, being, as they say, over sixty years old, (2) and having gained great facility by his long practice, very properly permitted his public discourses to be taken down by stenographers, a thing which he had never before allowed. He also at this time composed a work of eight books in answer to that entitled True Discourse, which had been written against us by Celsus (3) the Epicurean, and the twenty-five books on the Gospel of Matthew, (4) besides those on the Twelve Prophets, of which we have found only twenty-five. (5) There is extant also an epistle (6) of his to the Emperor Philip, and another to Severa his wife, with several others to different persons. We have arranged in distinct books to the number of one hundred, so that they might be no longer scattered, as many of these as we have been able to collect, (7) which have been preserved here and there by different persons. He wrote also to Fabianus, (8) bishop of Rome, and to many other rulers of the churches concerning his orthodoxy. You have examples of these in the eighth book of the Apology (9) which we have written in his behalf.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Dissension of the Arabians. (1)

ABOUT the same time others arose in Arabia, putting forward a doctrine foreign to the truth. They said that during the present time the human soul dies and perishes with the body, but that at the time of the resurrection they will be renewed together. And at that time also a synod of considerable size assembled, and Origen, being again invited thither, spoke publicly on the question with such effect that the opinions of those who had formerly fallen were changed.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

The Heresy of the Elkesites.

ANOTHER error also arose at this time, called the heresy of the Elkesites, (1) which was extinguished in the very beginning. Origen speaks of it in this manner in a public homily on the eighty-second Psalm: (2)

"A certain man (3) came just now, puffed up greatly with his own ability, proclaiming that godless and impious opinion which has appeared lately in the churches, styled 'of the Elkesites.' I will show you what evil things that opinion teaches, that you may not be carried away by it. It rejects certain parts of every scripture. Again it uses portions of the Old Testament and the Gospel, but rejects the apostle (4) altogether. It says that to deny Christ is an indifferent matter, and that he who understands will, under necessity, deny with his mouth, but not in his heart. They produce a certain book which they say fell from heaven. They hold that whoever hears and believes (5) this shall receive remission of sins, another remission than that which Jesus Christ has given."

Such is the account of these persons.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The Persecution under Decius, and the Sufferings of Origen.

AFTER a reign of seven years Philip was succeeded by Decius. (1) On account of his hatred of Philip, he commenced a persecution of the churches, in which Fabianus (2) suffered martyrdom at Rome, and Cornelius succeeded him in the episcopate. (3) In Palestine, Alexander, (4) bishop of the church of Jerusalem, was brought again on Christ's account before the governor's judgment seat in Caesarea, and having acquitted himself nobly in a second confession was cast into prison, crowned with the hoary locks of venerable age. And after his honorable and illustrious confession at the tribunal of the governor, he fell asleep in prison, and Mazabanes (5) became his successor in the bishopric of Jerusalem. Babylas (6) in Antioch, having like Alexander passed away in prison after his confession, was succeeded by Fabius in the episcopate of that church.

But how many and how great things came upon Origen in the persecution, and what was their final result, -- as the demon of evil marshaled all his forces, and fought against the man with his utmost craft and power, assaulting him beyond all others against whom he contended at that time, --and what and how many things he endured for the word of Christ, bonds and bodily tortures and torments under the iron collar and in the dungeon; and how for many days with his feet stretched four spaces in the stooks (8) he bore patiently the threats of fire and whatever other things were inflicted by his enemies; and how his sufferings terminated, as his judge strove eagerly with all his might not to end his life; and what words he left after these things, full of comfort to those needing aid, a great many of his epistles show with truth and accuracy. (9)

CHAPTER XL.

The Events which happened to Dionysius. (1)

I SHALL quote from the epistle of Dionysius to Germanus (2) an account of what befell the former. Speaking of himself, he writes as follows:

"I speak before God, and he knows that I do not lie. I did not flee on my own impulse nor without divine direction. But even before this, at the very hour when the Decian persecution was commanded, Sabinus (3) sent a frumentarius (4) to search for me, and I remained at home four days awaiting his arrival. But he went about examining all places, -- roads, rivers, and fields, --where he thought I might be concealed or on the way. But he was smitten with blindness, and did not find the house, (5) for he did not suppose, that being pursued, I would remain at home. And after the fourth day God commanded me to depart, and made a way for me in a wonderful manner; and I and my attendants (6) and many of the brethren went away together. And that this occurred through the providence of God was made manifest by what followed, in which perhaps we were useful to some." Farther on he relates in this manner what happened to him after his flight:

"For about sunset, having been seized with those that were with me, I was taken by the soldiers to Taposiris, (7) but in the providence of God, Timothy (8) was not present and was not captured. But coming later, he found the house deserted and guarded by soldiers, and ourselves reduced to slavery." (9) After a little he says:

"And what was the manner of his admirable management? for the truth shall be told. One of the country people met Timothy fleeing and disturbed, and inquired the cause of his haste. And he told him the truth. And when the man heard it (he was on his way to a marriage feast, for it was customary to spend the entire night in such gatherings), he entered and announced it to those at the table. And they, as if on a preconcerted signal, arose with one impulse, and rushed out quickly and came and burst in upon us with a shout. Immediately the soldiers who were guarding us fled, and they came to us lying as we were upon the bare couches. But I, God knows, thought at first that they were robbers who had come for spoil and plunder. So I remained upon the bed on which I was, clothed only in a linen garment, and offered them the rest of my clothing which was lying beside me. But they directed me to rise and come away quickly.

Then I understood why they were come, and I cried out, beseeching and entreating them to depart and leave us alone. And I requested them, if they desired to benefit me in any way, to anticipate those who were carrying me off, and cut off my head themselves. And when I had cried out in this manner, as my companions and partners in everything know, they raised me by force. But I threw myself on my back on the ground; and they seized me by the hands and feet and dragged me away. And the witnesses of all these occurrences followed: Gaius, Faustus, Peter, and Paul. (10) But they who had seized me carried me out of the village hastily, and placing me on an ass without a saddle, bore me away." (11)

Dionysius relates these things respecting himself.