Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History, Books I–X

Chapter XXXIX.—The Persecution under Decius, and the Sufferings of Origen.

1. After a reign of seven years Philip was succeeded by Decius. ^{Edition note 1} On account of his hatred of Philip, he commenced a persecution of the churches, in which Fabianus ^{Edition note 2} suffered martyrdom at Rome, and Cornelius succeeded him in the episcopate. ^{Edition note 3}

2. In Palestine, Alexander, ^{Edition note 4} bishop of the church of Jerusalem, was brought again on Christ’s account before the governor’s judgment seat in Cæsarea, and having acquitted himself nobly in a second confession was cast into prison, crowned with the hoary locks of venerable age.

3. And after his honorable and illustrious confession at the tribunal of the governor, he fell asleep in prison, and Mazabanes ^{Edition note 5} became his successor in the bishopric of Jerusalem.

4. Babylas ^{Edition note 6} in Antioch, having like Alexander passed away in prison after his confession, was succeeded by Fabius ^{Edition note 7} in the episcopate of that church.

5. 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 stocks ^{Edition note 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. ^{Edition note 9}