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AFTER Antoninus had reigned seven years and six months, Macrinus
succeeded him.
He held the government but a year, and was succeeded by another
Antoninus. During his first year the Roman bishop, Zephyrinus,
having held his office for eighteen years, died, and Callistus
received the episcopate. He continued for five years, and was
succeeded by
Urbanus. After this, Alexander became Roman emperor, Antoninus
having reigned but four years. At this time Philetus also succeeded
Asclepiades in the church of Antioch. The mother of the emperor,
Mammaea by name, was a most pious woman, if there ever was one, and
of religious life. When the fame of Origen had extended everywhere
and had come even to her ears, she desired greatly to see the man, and
above all things to make trial of his celebrated understanding of divine
things. Staying for a time in Antioch, she sent for him with a
military escort.
Having remained with her a while and shown her many things which were
for the glory of the Lord and of the excellence of the divine
teaching, he hastened back to his accustomed work.
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