His Holiness Pope Shenouda III spoke about Origen, one of the greatest scholars and theologians of the early Church. He explained Origen’s vast theological contributions and also his errors, showing how his influence marked Christian thought both positively and negatively.

🔹 Life and Background:
Origen was born in 185 AD to a devout Christian family. His father was a saint and martyr. From a young age, Origen showed an intense love for study and became one of the most brilliant minds of his time. He was appointed by Pope Demetrius to teach at the Catechetical School of Alexandria, which flourished under his leadership and produced many priests and bishops.

🔹 Virtues and Struggles:
He was a man of knowledge, prayer, fasting, and asceticism, and he defended the faith courageously under persecution. He authored thousands of works in Greek, including the “Hexapla,” a massive study comparing biblical texts, and several treatises on prayer, resurrection, and scriptural commentary.

🔹 His Method of Interpretation:
Origen became famous for his allegorical interpretation of Scripture, though he often exaggerated it beyond sound theology. Despite his profound insights, Pope Shenouda noted that Origen’s thought leaned more toward rationalism than spirituality.

🔹 Theological Errors:
Origen’s main theological mistakes included his belief in the pre-existence of souls, the possible salvation of demons, his misinterpretation of the fall of Adam and Eve, the idea that Christ’s ransom was paid to Satan, and the denial of the resurrection of the same physical body. Because of these, Pope Demetrius and many saints condemned him, though some later scholars tried to defend him.

🔹 The Church’s Stance:
Pope Shenouda stressed that the issue of Origen belongs to the whole Church’s history, not to one patriarchate. His legacy caused disputes even among saints, so his evaluation rests in the hands of history and careful theological study, not personal judgment.

🔹 Spiritual Message:
Holiness lies not only in knowledge but in purity of faith and doctrine. Reason, if not sanctified by faith, can go astray. A true theologian must keep his thought in harmony with the Church’s Spirit and Orthodox teaching.

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