Origen

Also: Origenes Adamantius

Born probably between 184 and 186, probably in Alexandria, Egypt. Died probably between 253 and 255, probably in Tyrus (now Tyre, Lebanon).

The most learned Christian teacher of the third century. He taught at Alexandria and then at Caesarea, and wrote on almost every book of the Bible.

Wrote in Greek. A major author.

Places lived

185 to 231Alexandria, Egyptstudent, then head of the schoolyears probableHe made journeys to Rome, Arabia, Palestine, Antioch and Greece in these years.
231 to 253Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel)teacher and priestyears probableSome scholars put the move to Caesarea in 232 to 234.

Works

15 works, in the order they were written. 8 works can be read here.

On First Principlesc. 220 to 230 · in Alexandria, Egypt · treatiseThe first attempt at an ordered account of the whole Christian faith.136,014 words
Commentary on Johnc. 226 to 248 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · commentaryHis great commentary on the Gospel of John; nine of 32 books survive.102,734 words
Letter to Friends in Alexandria (fragments)about 231 to 234 · place not known · letterTwo pieces of a letter in which Origen complains that his words were falsified; kept in Latin by Rufinus and Jerome.1,780 words
Homilies on Lukec. 233 to 234 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · homilyThirty-nine short sermons on Luke.not yet on the site
On Prayerc. 233 to 235 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · treatiseA book on prayer, with a commentary on the Lord's Prayer.not yet on the site
Exhortation to Martyrdom235 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · treatiseA call to two friends in danger to stand firm to death.not yet on the site
Letter to Gregoryc. 235 to 243 · place not known · letterA letter that tells a student to use Greek learning in the service of Scripture.1,462 words
Homilies on Genesisc. 240 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · homilySixteen sermons on Genesis.not yet on the site
Letter to Africanusabout 238 to 250 · probably in Nicomedia (now İzmit, Turkey) · letterOrigen's defence of the story of Susanna as part of Daniel, in answer to Julius Africanus; the corpus file holds both letters.8,537 words
Commentary on the Song of Songsc. 240 to 245 · perhaps in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · commentaryA commentary that reads the Song as the love of Christ and the soul.not yet on the site
Commentary on Matthewc. 244 to 249 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · commentaryA commentary on Matthew in 25 books; books 10 to 17 survive in Greek.91,671 words
Dialogue with Heraclidesc. 244 to 249 · perhaps in Arabia (Roman province), now southern Syria and Jordan, region · dialogueThe record of a church meeting where Origen questioned a bishop about the Father and the Son.not yet on the site
Commentary on Romansc. 246 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · commentaryThe oldest commentary on Romans that survives.not yet on the site
Against Celsusc. 248 · probably in Caesarea Maritima (now Caesarea, Israel) · apologyEight books that answer, point by point, the attack of the pagan Celsus on Christianity.253,439 words
Philocaliac. 358 to 360 · by tradition in Annisa, Pontus (near the Iris river, northern Turkey, site not sure) · anthologyA choice of passages from Origen on Scripture and free will.83,604 words

How we know the dates and places

Born probable: Eusebius, Church History 6.2.12 (not yet 17 when his father died in 202)
Place of birth probable: Eusebius, Church History 6.1 and 6.2
Died probable: Eusebius, Church History 7.1 (died aged 69, under Gallus); Jerome, On Illustrious Men 54
Place of death probable: Jerome, On Illustrious Men 54
Photius (Library 118) says Caesarea.
Alexandria, years probable: Eusebius, Church History 6.3 and 6.26 (he left in the tenth year of Alexander Severus)
Alexandria, place sure: Eusebius, Church History 6.3 and 6.26 (he left in the tenth year of Alexander Severus)
Caesarea Maritima, years probable: Eusebius, Church History 6.26 to 6.39
Caesarea Maritima, place sure: Eusebius, Church History 6.26 to 6.39