St. Leonidas: Father of Origen
The Roman Martyrology records several feast days of martyrs of this
name in different countries. Under date of 28 January there is a martyr
called Leonides, a native of the Thebaid, whose death with several
companions is supposed to have occurred during the Diocletian
persecution (Acta SS., January, II, 832). Another Leonides appears on 2
September, in a long list of martyrs headed by a St. Diomedes. Together
with a St. Eleutherius, a Leonides is honoured on 8 August. From other
sources we know of a St. Leonidas, Bishop of Athens, who lived about the
sixth century, and whose feast is celebrated on 15 April (“Acta SS.”,
April, II, 378; “Bibliotheca hagiographica graeca”, 2nd ed., 137). Still
another martyr of the name is honoured on 16 April, with Callistus,
Charysius, and other companions (Acta SS., April, II, 402).
The best known of them all, however, is St. Leonides of Alexandria,
father of the great Origen. From Eusebius (Hist. Eccles., VI, 1, 2) we
learn that he died a martyr during the persecution under Septimius
Severus in 202. He was condemned to death by the prefect of Egypt,
Lactus, and beheaded. His property was confiscated. Leonides carefully
cultivated the brilliant intellect of his son Origen from the latter’s
childhood, and imparted to him the knowledge of Holy Scripture. The
feast of St. Leonidas of Alexandria is celebrated on 22 April.
J.P. KIRSCH (Catholic Encyclopedia)
