Saint Leonidas
Encyclopedia
Saint Leonidas refers to several saintly martyrs:
The Roman Martyrology records several feast days of martyrs of this name in different countries.
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 ThebaidThebaidThe Thebaid or Thebais is the region of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. It acquired its name from its proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes....
(Egypt), whose death with several companions is supposed to have occurred during the Diocletian persecution. - 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 AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, who lived about the sixth century, and whose feast is celebrated on 15 April. - Still another martyr of the name is honoured on 16 April, with Callistus, Charysius, and other companions.
- The best known of them all, however, is St. Leonides of AlexandriaSt. LeonidesSt. Leonides of Alexandria was a Christian martyr of the 3rd century AD. According to the Christian historian Eusebius, his son was the early Church father Origen. In the same passage Eusebius tells us that Leonides was martyred during the persecution of the Roman emperor Septimus Severus in the...
, father of the great Church father OrigenOrigenOrigen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
. From Eusebius we learn that he died a martyr during the persecution under Septimius SeverusSeptimius SeverusSeptimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
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.