The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Pamphilus of Caesarea
d. 16 February 310 · Presbyter of Caesarea · Scholar · Martyr · Berytus → Caesarea Maritima
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Pamphilus of Caesarea was
A wealthy scholar-presbyter of Caesarea who devoted his fortune to enlarging Origen’s library and copying the scriptures, the master to whom Eusebius was so bound that he took the name “Eusebius of Pamphilus.” In prison during the Great Persecution the two composed together the Defence of Origen. After two years in chains he was beheaded in 310. Jerome revered him: he “burned with such love of sacred literature that he transcribed the greater part of Origen’s works with his own hand.” His library made Caesarea the scholarly capital of the Greek church and preserved the texts on which Eusebius built church history itself.
Also listed in martyrs, roman emperors and the great persecution.
Common questions
When did Pamphilus die?
Pamphilus of Caesarea is dated d. 16 February 310 in the archive, which places Pamphilus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
What did Pamphilus write?
Pamphilus of Caesarea has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Defence of Origen (with Eusebius, in prison).
Which early sources mention Pamphilus?
Pamphilus of Caesarea is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea, Jerome of Stridon and Jerome & Eusebius. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Pamphilus from?
The archive associates Pamphilus of Caesarea with Berytus, Caesarea Maritima. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Defence of Origen (with Eusebius, in prison)
c. 308–309Written in bonds, to vindicate the memory and the orthodoxy of the great Alexandrian against his detractors — Book I survives in Rufinus’ Latin.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Martyrs of Palestine 11 (his master's account of the seven-fold martyrdom)
c. AD 311Letter 34 (his library at Caesarea compared to Demetrius Phalereus's)
c. AD 385The blessed Pamphilus sought to rival Demetrius Phalereus and Pisistratus in his zeal for the sacred library.Jerome of Stridon · Letter 34 · source text
On Illustrious Men 75 / Ecclesiastical History VII.32
c. AD 393Pamphilus the presbyter… was so inflamed with love of the sacred library that he copied out with his own hand the greater part of the works of Origen, and these are still preserved in the library at Caesarea.Jerome & Eusebius · VII.32 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- Eusebius of Caesarea
- Origen of Alexandria
- Peter of Alexandria
- Procopius of Scythopolis
- Aedesius the Martyr
- Apphianus of Lycia
- Theodosia of Tyre
- Pierius of Alexandria
- Valens of Aelia
Events in this lifetime
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Pamphilus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.