Baader Meinhof strikes again. I just learned of Origen via _The Book of Dead Philosphers_. Which, characteristically, describes him with little insight into his thinking.
What makes him a favorite of yours?
I resonate somewhat with his story, in that he was largely self-taught. He also was early enough that the church hadn't been completely taken over by Augustine, so I feel like there are some interesting insights to be had.