Through
Origen and especially the scholarly presbyter
Pamphilus, an avid collector of books of Scripture, the theological school of
Caesarea gained a reputation for having the most extensive ecclesiastical library of the time, containing more than 30,000 manuscripts:
Gregory Nazianzus,
Basil the Great,
Jerome and others came to study there. The
Caesarean text-type is recognized by scholars as one of the earliest
New Testament types.
Saint Pamphilus searched out and obtained ancient texts which he collected in the library that
Jerome was later to use, and established a school for theological study. In the
scriptorium, a necessary adjunct to all libraries of
antiquity, he oversaw the production of edited copies of
Scripture. Testimonies to this work are to be found in the
colophons of biblical manuscripts.
Jerome's De Viris Illustribus (75) says that Pamphilus
"transcribed the greater part of the works of Origen of Alexandria with his own hand," and that
"these are still preserved in the library of Cæsarea." Among other lost treasures in the library was the
Gospel according to the Hebrews. Jerome knew of this copy of the so-called "Hebrew" or
Aramaic text of the
Gospel of Matthew and Eusebius refers to the catalogue of the library that he appended to his life of Pamphilus. A passage from the lost life, quoted by Jerome, describes how Pamphilus supplied impoverished scholars with the necessaries of life and gave them copies of the Scriptures, of which he kept a large supply. He likewise bestowed copies on women devoted to study. The great treasure of the library at Caesarea was Origen's own copy of the
"Hexapla," probably the only complete copy ever made. It was consulted by Jerome. St Pamphilus was martyred in February, 309. The collections of the library suffered during the persecutions under the Emperor
Diocletian, but were repaired subsequently by bishops of Caesarea.
Acacius of Caesarea and Euzoius, successors of Eusebius, concentrated on conservation. It was noted in the 6th century, O'Connor says of this library, "The tradition of scholarship ... was continued by Pamphilius (d. 309). By adding to the manuscript collection of Origen he created a library second only to that of Alexandria; in 630 it had 30,000 volumes." This number is based on
Isidore of Seville's estimate in his
Etymologiae, likely taken from an ancient or unknown source, thus must be treated with caution. ==See also==