Origen was in his eighteenth year when he took charge of the catechetical school,3 and at this time also he became prominent during the persecutions under Aquila,4 the Governor of Alexandria,5 when he acquired an especially famous name among all those who were of the faith by the kindness and good will which he displayed toward all the holy martyrs, both unknown and known. For he was with the holy martyrs not only while they were in prison and not only while they were being examined up to the last