Now Antoninus, having reigned seven years and six months, was succeeded by Macrinus; and when he had continued in office for a year, another Antoninus again received the government of the Romans. In the latter's first year Zephyrinus, the bishop of the Romans, departed this life, having held the ministry for eighteen entire years.
After him Callistus was entrusted with the episcopate; he survived five years and then left the ministry to Urban. After these the emperor Alexander succeeded to the government of the Romans, Antoninus having continued in office only four years. At this time also Philetus succeeded Asclepiades in the church of the Antiochenes.
Now the emperor's mother, Mamaea by name, a most God-fearing woman if ever there was one, and reverent in her manner of life, when the fame of Origen, noised abroad everywhere, came even to her ears, set great store on being counted worthy of a sight of the man, and on gaining experience of his understanding of divine things, which was admired by all.
While staying at Antioch, she summoned him to her with a military escort. Having spent some time with her, and having displayed very many things for the glory of the Lord and for the excellence of the divine school of teaching, he hastened back to his accustomed labours.