Section 279
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248 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. CHAPTER XXVIII. The persecution under Maximinus. BUT the emperor Alexander being carried off after a reign of thirteen years, was succeeded by Maximinus, who, inflamed with hatred against the house of Alexander, consisting of many be lievers, raised a persecution, and commanded at first only the heads of the churches to be slain, as the abettors and agents of evangelical truth. It was then that Origen wrote his book on Martyrdom, which he dedicated to Ambrose and Protoctetus a presbyter of the church at Cesarea, because both of these en countered no common danger in the persecution. In which also it is said that these men were pre-eminent for (persevering in) their confession, as Maximinus did not reign longer than three years. Origen has assigned the time of this persecution, both in the twenty-second book of his Commentaries on John, and in dif ferent epistles. CHAPTER XXIX. Of Fabianus, who icas remarkably appointed bishop of Rome by a divine communication. GORDIAN succeeded Maximinus in the sovereignty of Rome, when Pontianus who had held the episcopate six years, was suc ceeded by Anteros in the church of Rome ; he also is succeeded by Fabianus, after having been engaged in the service about a month. It is said that Fabianus had come to Rome with some others from the country, and staying there in the most remarkable manner, by divine and celestial grace, was advanced to be one of the candidates for the office. When all the brethren had assem bled in the church, for the purpose of ordaining him that should succeed in the episcopate, though there were very many eminent and illustrious men in the expectation of many, Fabianus being