LEONIDA, SANTO, MARTIRE

LEONIDAS, Saint, Martyr. — He is commemorated on April 22, but it is uncertain whether this is his true *dies natalis*. The few details of his life are reported by Eusebius. He was the father of ORIGEN, whom he educated, teaching him Greek letters and ensuring he was primarily instructed in Sacred Scripture, of which he had him memorize many passages. During the persecution of Septimius Severus, LEONIDAS was arrested in Alexandria and imprisoned. The young ORIGEN then wrote him a letter, urging him to martyrdom and begging him not to worry about his family. He was beheaded in 202, and his goods were confiscated.