What can modern theologians learn from Origen’s School in Caesarea?

Early Christianity could enumerate only a very limited number of highereducational institutions. One of the best known is Origen’s “academy” inCaesarea (Palestine). Gregory the Wonderworker wrote a speech of praise,‘Oratio panegyrica’, to his professor when leaving the school after many yearsof study. The speech illustrates a number of interesting facts about theprofessor, the students, and the curriculum. The low number of students madeit possible to achieve a very close relationship between the teaching staff andthe students. The teacher was very much a spiritual father and a friend.Gregory thought that Origen was an example of a godlike person, and thusalso an example to be followed. The likeness of God consisted first of all inlikeness with God’s Logos. A person living in accordance with reason lives thelife of God. The students participating in the tuition provided by Origen camefrom respectable classes of the society. Both men and women could participate,both young and grown-up people. Many can be classified as seekers, that is,persons looking for an intellectually acceptable world-view