Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History, Books I–X

NPNF historical edition · Translated text

Book VI — Chapter IV — The pupils of Origen that became Martyrs.

Read in this edition: source locators and uncertainty marks are retained. Square brackets can mark gaps or editorial interventions; headings and supplied subtitles belong to the edition. Coverage and cautions

Chapter IV.—The pupils of Origen that became Martyrs.

1. The first of these was Plutarch, who was mentioned just above. ^[1] As he was led to death, the man of whom we are speaking being with him at the end of his life, came near being slain by his fellow-citizens, as if he were the cause of his death. But the providence of God preserved him at this time also.

2. After Plutarch, the second martyr among the pupils of Origen was Serenus, ^[2] who gave through fire a proof of the faith which he had received.

3. The third martyr from the same school was Heraclides, ^[3] and after him the fourth was Hero. ^[4] The former of these was as yet a catechumen, and the latter had but recently been baptized. Both of them were beheaded. After them, the fifth from the same school proclaimed as an athlete of piety was another Serenus, who, it is reported, was beheaded, after a long endurance of tortures. And of women, Herais ^[5] died while yet a catechumen, receiving baptism by fire, as Origen himself somewhere says.

Edition notes

These belong to the translator or historical editor, not to the ancient author.

Edition note 1

See the previous chapter, §2. The martyrdom of these disciples of Origen took place under Aquila, and hence the date depends on the date of his rule, which cannot be fixed with exactness, as remarked in note 4 on the previous chapter.

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Edition note 2

These two persons named Serenus, the first of whom was burned, the second beheaded, are known to us only from this chapter.

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Edition note 3

Of this Heraclides, we know only what is told us in this chapter. He, with the other martyrs mentioned in this connection, is commemorated in the mediæval martyrologies, but our authentic information is limited to what Eusebius tells us here.

Open note in the edition commentary

Edition note 4

Our authentic information of Hero is likewise limited to this account of Eusebius.

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Edition note 5

Herais likewise is known to us from this chapter alone. It is interesting to note that Origen’s pupils were not confined to the male sex. His association with female catechumens, which his office of instructor entailed upon him, formed one reason for the act of self-mutilation which he committed (see chap. 8, §2).

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