518-8. 35. Of the same to Eustace the presbyter. [From those during episcopacy, from, the yth book the 140M, I ^2nd letter.)
• /./: .V.:"3 -. *
-,.• /: ;;::Wheii I had read the letter of your love of God, I
' ' * was desirous of carrying out what you ask and beg- ging Jesus, who is God, to bestow the ordination of a deacon upon the devout brother John through my sinful and unworthy hand. But I was greatly opposed in this and my readiness hindered by the strictness of the canons, which do not on any other condition allow a man who has been afflicted with the yoke of slavery to enter the sacred clergy unless he has received manu- mission and removed from him the bond of slavery.^ This principle was in fact observed by Peter who is among the saints, the bishop from Iberia, a man who in all things acted in accordance with the judgments of God. When father Timothy, an inmate of what is called the convent of Majuma, had been approved for admission to the presbyterate, he would not on any other condition allow him to receive ordination, unless those p. 115. who were thought to be his masters had first bestowed freedom upon him: and then the God-loving presbyter father Theodore went with him and had the legal forms of manumission carried out in the church called that of Anthedon. For the monastery that is being built by your religiousness, and by help from God is on the
^ Mansi i. 45.
I. 36. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 108
point of being finished, we have sent you a very small present: which please receive contentedly: since the holy church here, having been laden with many debts by him who was ejected, does not allow me to show muni- ficence or liberality even in urgent matters. Our common Christ-loving brother the lord Genesius we received with joy, and we offered him all that was in our power, seeing he is a man who deserves any trouble or effort. The end.
36. Of the same to Eusebius the deacon at Apamea, 618-7. [From those during episcopacy y from, the *jth book the 2iSth /etter.)
Those who bring you this letter came to us with the information that Libanius the devout presbyter, who is enrolled in the holy clergy at Apamea, wishes to exact interest from them as arising from a loan of his, contrary to the intention of the sacred canons. They say that they often entreated him to extend to them a hand of sympathy, and to be content with the amount p- "^ of the principal ^ only, and they gained nothing. Be so good therefore as to remind this man through the religious oeconomiy or stewards, and the devout arch- deacon, or chief of the deacons, of the divine laws which say, " Thou shalt not exact interest from thy brother,"^ and ''He giveth not his money upon
1 K€<^aAatov. '^ De. xxiii. 19 (?); Ex. xxii. 25 (?).
104 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 1. 37.
interest,"^ and " Interest and guile departed not from her streets/' ^ and things like these. Following in the tracks of these texts, the God-clad instructors * of the church also forbade interest and usury to those who act as priests to God, fixing a fitting punishment and penalty for such unjust acquisition.* Put him therefore, the aforesaid devout presbyter Libanius, in memory of these things, and persuade him to do what beseems him and not to do despite either to his own spiritual office, or to God's laws. But let him yield to the kinship and consanguinity of nature, lest he call down upon himself the severity of the canons. For it is better for him to follow the divine counsel not of necessity but of his own will. The end,
51S-7. 37. Of the same to Simeon^ bishop of Chalets. [From those during episcopacy^ from, the yth book the 238M, 240/^ letter.)
The devout monk so-and-so came to us, sadly lamenting and saying that he had been separated by your love of God and forbidden to live in the monas- tery of the holy lord 'Akiba, where he had also been educated from the beginning and practised philosophic modes of life. What moved you to this was, he said, because it was he who told us that the man who is chorepiscatms and also teriodeutes of the village of
1 Ps. xiv. 5. 2 Ps. liv. 12. ^ Marzane^ \txiTTax, ^ Mansi ii. 676.
I. 37. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 106
Thelhadin, who had previously been tried by us at a • time when the saintly bishops were here, and them- selves also joined us in the examination, had treated the canonical inhibition with contempt and presumed to take part in the sacred ministry. When I learned this, I judged it right to send and tell your love of God that, as God is witness, I did not even know the very name of this monk, nor was I acquainted with his personal appearance, until I learned it ^ just now, when he made the complaint to me; nor was it he who dis- closed a fact that was hidden: for it was already being whispered by everyone. Whence those of the house of the God-loving bishop Maron also had learned it before this came to the knowledge of my vileness, and they were distressed in themselves, and did not reveal p- "*• it or tell it out: but they concealed the distress and kept it to themselves, as the truth is witness. It is therefore the duty of your love of God to release the man from his inhibition, seeing that it is without cause, and he gave no handle for blame against him. For the chorepiscopus or periodeutes, whom we just now mentioned, whether it is openly or secretly that he presumes to transgress the law by treating with con- tempt the inhibition from us, in the same way and without any difference rouses the wrath of God. For, though a man escape men's eyes, he cannot escape the eye that sees everything. Let such a man hear also from the singing prophet, ** He that planted the ears,
^ Masc, i,e, the name.
106 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 38.
• doth He not hear? or He that created the eyes, doth He not perceive? " ^ Let this therefore be a matter for inquiry, and for your consideration: for our part, bound as we are by respect for your venerable age, we com- mit everything to you: for I know that, as you have undergone a contest on behalf of the orthodox faith, and have shown great concern on behalf of accuracy in this respect, so you willshow similar concern in the case of the canons. But for the present please release from his inhibition the devout monk whom we have many times mentioned, who brings you this letter; since, to say the truth, he has not committed any of p. 119- the sins with which you have charged him. As to the matters ^ that were the cause of the devout deacon ' Stephen coming to you, do your diligence to handle them as befits you and is reasonable, in order that none of the troubles which have been stirred up may remain without healing and without cure. This will bring you no small praise both in the sight of God and in the sight of men. The end.
.518-7. 28. Of the same to the same Simeon^ bishop of Chalets. {From those during episcopacy ^ from, the yth book the 267M, 269/^ letter,)
For my part I had no need of words and of assurance by letter as regards the various matters that have happened and been transacted with the tranquillity of
^ Ps. xciii. 9. '^ K€<^aAaia.
I. 38. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 107
your love of God, since the facts, if one may so say, utter a voice and plainly cry this out. But, because there is a time to speak, as there is also a time to keep silence, according to the saying of the wise Koholeth,^ I now wish to repeat again as in a summary ^ the events that occurred before, and to say like the prophet, " I have kept silence, lest I should keep silence also for ever; I have refrained myself like a travailing woman/' ^ Your holiness probably, I think, remembers that all through the summer the men from the village called Thelhadin were urging us,.p.!iaa and that, though their request was refused by us once and twice (I do not hesitate to say even three times and many times), so that a chance might be given you of settling their affair by some wise method and God- pleasing plan, we effected nothing at all, but we were more pressingly and more violently urged by them, and we were now being abused even by the citizens themselves who saw that they were continually com- plaining to us and did not receive any answer; and thenceforward we had also to submit to murmurs of no ordinary kind. Whence also we exhorted the devout presbyter Ignatius, who happened to be here, to appease the men by some means and invite them to a peaceful frame of mind. At last, not to make a long story, we were compelled to resort to such an extreme measure as bringing the periodeutes himself here and having the details of the case* examined before the
* Ec. iii. 7 *^ K€<^aXaiov. ^ Is. xlii, 14.
108 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 38.
saintly bishops. How repulsive to the ears the counts^ of the accusations that were examined were I forbear to state, seeing that the gravity of these is known to those who examined them with us, and closed their ears when they were being examined and proved. But this I know clearly, that in the middle of the examination into these things the same periodeutes wanted to run away; and in the hearing p. 121. of everyone and while he was standing up I said to him in clear and distinct tones, directing the words towards him, ** If you dare to depart, you old man, before the investigation is ended, you will be ex- communicate, and under deprivation." Upon hearing this he promised not to run away. And the next day, when his presence was required, though he was sitting in what is called the psepkeion, and had been seen by certain men, he would not come: but he formed the plan of running away, and departed while in full health, thus offending against the reverence due to the apostolic see, and against the synod of saintly bishops. The saintly bishops Sergius and Marion, who are much devoted to your love of God, are trustworthy witnesses of these things. These things therefore having thus passed in order and been transacted, it is now your part, not mine, to say what punishment the man deserves who presumed to take part in priestly functions and down to yesterday to write letters as a chorepiscoibus and to administer the affairs of the
I. 38. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 109
district. When a man dares even to lie and swear, and to retain a thing in ignorance, and that after he has personally received the prohibition, what chance of forgiveness or indulgence can he have? Who is there even among men of very peaceful disposition whom he is not treating as a fool and rousing to an anger that is just and well-pleasing to God? For for a man to be jealous for the divine laws when they are p. 122. transgressed is to offer a sacrifice to God, just as the opposite course, I mean to be silent on such occasions, is to rouse the wrath of Him who laid down such laws. And yet we for the sake of your holiness' tranquillity remained silent, as we ought not to have done under such circumstances: and, when at an earlier time those who came from the monastery of the holy lord *Akiba were asking us about the same said chorepiscopus or periodeutes, we kept silence out of respect to you, because we were ashamed to expose the abominable character of the affair, of which even men of no distinction were not unaware. Quite recently again, when the religious presbyter father Cosmas came to us about this same matter, and said that his conscience and that of the others was wounded, and that they ought not to communicate with a man who had trampled upon the strictness of the canons, and had reckoned the ban of excommunication as nothing, we were compelled to tell them the whole affair, and to place the facts proved by examination before their eyes and read them to them, fearing as we did the prophetic curse which lays under a miserable con-
110 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 39.
demnation those who call bitter sweet or darkness light.^ After this again the letter of your love of God came, and we gathered together in our mind all the details of the same affair, and we summoned the said P* "3- God-loving presbyter Cosmas to us, and we had some conversation with him concerning peace and concord; after which we thought it right for the sake of your holiness' tranquillity to relieve the above-mentioned presbyter from his punishment, and allow him com- munion: but only on condition of his remaining quiet and not approaching the office of chorepiscopus or periodeutes in any way, because, to speak in the words of scripture and in fitting language, some had been caused to stumble through him.^ But, while I was in the middle of writing these things, the company of the men of Thelhadin again assailed me, buzzing about my ears like bees: and they were again dismissed by us with insult and with man/ contumelies heaped upon them. It is therefore the duty of your sanctity to appoint such a chorepiscopus and periodeutes for them that God may be praised, and all occasion be cut off from those that wish to find occasion. The end.
618-7. 39. Of the same to the clergy and notables of Apamea. {From those during episcopacy, from the Jth book the 289/^ letter.)
The name and fact of concord is pleasing even in God's sight, for He himself said in the Gospel, "If
^ Is. V. 20. ^ Mt. xiii 57.
I. 39. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. Ill *
two of you shall agree on earth touching any matter whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father which is in heaven "; ^ and in the statute p- '24. of piety also concerning the nomination of bishops it is ordained that a deliberate vote upon this must by all means be put forward by the common consent of the religious clergymen and of the eloquent and illustrious notables; a principle which our pious Christ- loving king also ratified.^ Wherefore we urge you again, as we have also already done,^ and that many times, to come to a united election of him to whom the bishopric of the illustrious metropolis of the Apamenes is to be entrusted. When you were divided, we, who were not under the influence of passion, were obliged ourselves to choose by a judg- ment that did not respect persons and to nominate for you the devout presbyter Cosmas, a man who was reputed to be fitted for this, according to the prevailing opinion of many respecting him. But, considering also the greatness of the thing, he would not consent. And therefore I have determined again to urge you, as I have said, to a united vote, since those whom some of you chose by name did not seem to us to be fit men: and to send this letter to you the religious clergymen, and to the eloquent and magnificent ktetores and to the men of repute at the same time, in order that I may be the first, to give you an example of concord by not writing to you separately, but as to p. 125.
1 Mt. xviii. 19. 2 c j^ i^ iv^ ly (p)^ 3 i^ 30^
112 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 39.
one church which is the body of the one and only and undivided Christ. You will agree, I know well, if, free from all prejudice and cavilling and favour, and from other such influences, you will put in your psephisma three men who are in the first place sound in the orthodox faith and show this by holding firmly to communion with us, and secondly are in character free from avarice, and will not approach the high- priesthood with unwashen feet, as it is said, but men who have been trained, if only to a moderate degree, in exercises of virtue, and able to rule, and who besides humility possess alsq a practised intelligence, in order that they may rather rule those that are under their authority, and not themselves be ruled by them, but also be men practised in divine doctrines. For he who stands at the head must also be a man " apt to teach,*' and one who in character and speech shows himself **a pattern of good works,'* as the Apostle says.^ For we have in fact no other reason for using strict language about such things • except to avoid straying from what is right, and becoming liable to endless torment. For it is manifest that, although p. 126. we are sinners, yet still in the nomination of bishops we in no point fall short of the principles about which many concern themselves. The end,
1 I Ti. iii. 2; Tit. ii. 7.
I. 40. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 113
40. Of the same to Hypatius the Master of the 615-8, Soldiers.^ {From those during episcopacy ^ from the yth book the ^^Zth, ^6$th letter.)
Your excellency s exalted letters I for my part receive with all affection and pleasure. Though you are so exalted and have so much glory, to which the Lord brought you, you encourage even humble men like me to inform you of things that are the truth, since you place nothing before this. Wherefore I also will truthfully inform your highness of the reason for which I have now composed this mean letter. It was not the devout presbyter Julian only who was accused by the holy church of the Tarsians of detaining property that belonged of right to it, but many others also with him; and in connexion with such accusations those who made the charge and those who were under the charge often wished to have recourse to the apostolic throne of the city that belongs to the Antiochenes and to you. And, since it is my habit not to cause trouble to anyone, but as far as possible to remove the com- plications arising from affairs, and not to inflict the p. 127. burden of heavy expense upon men who are compelled to take so long a journey, and at such grievous cost to discuss the points on which they are in doubt, I determined that all the saintly bishops of First Cilicia should sit in conjunction with the eloquent
114 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 4a
scholastics whom I certainly knew to be of good reputation, and who are well reported of both now and from their former life in Berytus, and discuss the details of the case of each of the persons who are said to be devouring church property. I also pro- vided that two religious presbyters of the apostolic see, men versed in affairs and of minute experience in such matters, should be associated with them in the hearing of the said questions, with the book of the revered and holy gospels also laid in the midst. And after every point had been discussed in due order, and each of them had accepted the judgments given (how could they do otherwise?), the devout Julian only, being afflicted with covetousness, dared to treat the verdict * of the bishops with contempt contrary to the canons and the intention of the rightly-enacted laws, and to drag the hearing before a civil court, in so much as to incur indignation and the punishment prescribed by the canons. And upon his brother the God- p. 128. loving Syrian, bishop of the city of Augusta, using many entreaties and promising to induce him to keep quiet his punishment was remitted, since I am in fact naturally inclined to the milder course. Indeed he tried by the use of deception to make the illustrious Heliodorus your curator also an accomplice in his plot by giving him false information: and upon your high- ness obtaining previous information of his proceedings all his plan was shattered. And now again, as if
^ diroffiaa-LS,
I.40. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 116
dealing with a new matter he has set himself to entreat your highness, and to seem to be making a moderate request, that he may plead his cause before civil magistrates, after the examination and decision of the apostolic see and of the whole synod, the reversal of a decision of which is not permitted him by any authority, either by the holy canons or by the civil laws. Therefore by his words which are moderate and have a supplicatory appearance he is trying by means of his tricks to suppress things which have passed in order and been brought to a conclusion in this way. And his thoughts are, as one of the pro- phets said, **a pondering of iniquity, and his sin is hid." ^ For how did he expect to get anything of this kind from you who are very just, seeing that everyone who has made havoc of the property of the church would have imitated his example, and reversed judg- ments rightly given, and transferred ecclesiastical causes ^ to a magisterial tribunal, and that after judg- p. 129. ment had been given and they had received an ending consonant to the laws and to the intention of the divine canons? Therefore I beg and entreat your ex- cellency not to give him an opportunity of appealing to your friendship, and arming himself against the ordi- nances of the holy church, and destroying all discipline, of which you both are and ever will be a guardian and a protector, so long as you are preserved through your whole life. The end.
^ Ho. xiii. 12.
116 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 4I.
518-8. 41. Of the same to Solon the bishop. {From those during episcopacy ^ from the Jth book the 51st, 42nd letter.")
It is written somewhere in the legal writings that the divine Moses, after appointing judges over Israel, allowed them to judge unimportant causes (I must quote the actual expression of the God - inspired utterances): ^ but a hard matter they were to report to him, and from him to receive the solution that God " the knower of secrets " (this also I take from another scripture) ^ should reveal and signify to him. You also therefore as a giver and teacher of divine laws have followed this rule and reported to the apostolic see (not to my mean self who scarcely see even what p. 130- is before my feet owing to the denseness of my under- standing) a matter which seemed to be hard. There- fore your love of God must know that Maximus the presbyter, who has fallen into the snare of fornication, although he has shown fervent repentance, and for a period of five years has given himself up to such labours, cannot be restored and take his place in the sacred office: and it is a simple thing for us to obtain a solution of this question without trouble from the holy canons themselves. For indeed the God-loving bishops who met together at Neocaesarea made these distinct pronouncements in the ninth canon: " If a
^ Ex, xviii. 26. ^ Su. 42.
I. 41. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 117
presbyter be promoted after having previously sinned with his body, and confess that he sinned before ordination, he shall not offer: but he shall retain the rest of his functions on account of his zeal in other respects." ^ If then a man who before ordination has sinned with his body, i.e, has committed fornication (for this the Apostle also said, " Every sin is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body " ^), is not permitted to offer, but to retain the rest of his functions on account of his zeal in other respects, how can it be doubted that he who has committed this same sin after ordination cannot offer the divine sacrifice, or consecrate the water of regeneration, or perform any such function? p- '3i- Let no man say, "What then is the advantage of repentance to a man who has committed fornication, if he is not after labours of continence to be restored to the sacred service?*' Repentance brings about forgiveness and bestows communion in the bloodless sacrifice for the sake of purification and preservation upon those who wash away the sin by tears and the other forms of bodily mortification: but the service of the priesthood is the reward of a blameless character. The ninth canon of the three hundred and eighteen holy fathers also says thus, as you also know, ** If men have without examination been promoted to be pres- byters, and - being examined have confessed the sins^ committed by them, and after they have confessed
1 Mansi ii. 542. * i Co. vi. 18. ^ Gk. y\.
118 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 4I.
some men being moved in a manner contrary to the canon have laid a hand upon them, such men the canon does not accept: for the catholic church requires blamelessness."^ I forbear to say that you have adopted a very mild policy and one of exceeding leniency in the matter of Maximus, because the canon did not say anything plainly about a man who commits fornication after ordination. You have openly per- mitted him (this was stated in your letter) to perform evening and morning prayers, and to sit on every p. 132. occasion with the presbyters, a thing forbidden in the case of a man who has sinned before ordination and afterwards confessed; for this is clearly written down in the ninth canon of those who met together at Neocaesarea, which we mentioned a short time ago, which says that he should retain the rest of his functions on account of his zeal in other respects, but should not again go so far as to offer the rational sacrifice, and do things like this and of equal honour. Therefore, since you have the nature of what ought to be done from the canonical utterances themselves, do not allow anyone to take refuge in the unknown, and in the pretence of searching into the spirit of the holy canons. One seeks for the spirit in cases where nothing is defined in actual words and phrases,^ The end.
1 Mansi ii. 672. * Aifcis.
I. 42. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 119
42. Of the same to the fathers. {From those during 618-7, episcopacy y from the \th book the 6^th letter.)
Of the circumstances in which we are placed I notified your holinesses before when I sent the letter through the holy monastery at Aphthoria.^ If you have received this letter, please let me know this by a missive of your own.
And after other things. But Philip, the devout monk from Isauria, who was ordained deacon by me, deceived by avaricious thoughts, in truth yielded to p. 133- some deceivers and conceived the idea of digging and bringing up treasure. And he incurred blame from me on this account, and was expelled from the chapel of the forty holy martyrs, and was ordered to visit him- self with labours of repentance. If therefore he is iiving in the holy monastery of father Romanus of holy memory, you are acting rightly in allowing him to communicate in the oblation, but excluding him from the deacons' ministry, until he shows fruits of re- pentance for a certain period of time. As to him who holds the prelacy of the city of the men of Jerusalem,^ no news has reached us personally as to his reconcilia- tion. But that the man is utterly unstable and weak, seeing that from the very beginning he has lived such a confused and inconstant life, and has thus been raised to the position that he now holds, all who know
^ Near Caesarea in Palestine (vit Pet. lb. p. 120). ^ Cf.^. 129,
120 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 43*
him are well aware, and I have no need of words on this point. I was glad to see the God-loving presbyter father Apaphon, as I said before, and I thought the man s coming a great blessing, and you may be sure that I would have bought this at a high price; and I have incurred a debt of thanks to Christ our Saviour and God in that I received this pleasure for nothing through your saintly prayers. The sum of gold that was spent by him upon the well, I mean the sum of p- 134. fifty darics, we paid to him out of a certain God-loving loan. For, believe me, we have not a mina: and this is the only way in which we are relieved in poverty: while in our other pursuits we distress God and do nothing at all that is pleasing to Him. The end.
,518-8. 43. Of the same to the archimandrite of the monastery of the holy lord Simeon. {From those during episcopacy y from the %th book the i^^h letter.)
Whereas Nonnus even before entering the holy Simeon's flock was often summoned to answer the charges and accusations that were being brought against him and did not obey, but, even when placed under an injunction by the God-loving ekklesiekdikoi^ trampled upon this with similar impudence, like a man who had grown accustomed to treat holy things with contempt, and after repairing to me by night once only and in secret, as if doing things worthy of night and darkness, thought that he had thus done enough
I. 43. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 121
to give satisfaction (?), and at last after receiving an
explicit letter through your religiousness continued in
the same shameless state, I for my part endured, and
was not roused to just indignation: but after appoint- p. i3S«
ing him a limit ^ of ten days I allowed him to have this
doubled. And he behaved exactly as one who had
not been summoned, alleging only pretexts founded
upon sins, and answered through your religiousness
that he asked that clergymen should not be present at
his trial, because they are clergymen who have been
injured by him, and from whom he used to receive the
unhallowed and profane gains. For he did the same
as those who have stolen or committed adultery, or
perpetrated a murder, and say that those who have
been outraged and injured by theft and those who
have thus suffered by adultery and those who have
suffered by murder ought not to be present at their
trial. No wonder if, being guilty of such evil deeds,
he belches forth such words. What will they say who
*' hate judgment and pervert all right things, and build
Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity," ^ as one
of the prophets somewhere said? For how can one
help saying that the hands are full of blood which have
sold the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which he had no right
to give to some men, or to take away from those who
possess them? For this is the wonderful point about:
his sacrilege, that he used to hide himself as in some
lurking place, I mean in hypocrisy, while hearing at
1 irpo$€a'fua. . ^ Mi. iii. 9, 10.
122 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 43.
p. 136. every ordination the anathemas and terrific curses that I pronounced against such unlawful gains, and to stop his ears " like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears, which will not hearken to the voice of the charmer," ^. as the singing prophet says. However, that I may not by using many words protract the letter unnecess- arily, this is the second and third summons that I am addressing to him through your love of God, or, rather to speak more truly, a summons that has the force of the tenth and twentieth (for one may justly reckon them as equal in number to the days that have passed); since I wish even if late yet some time or other to induce him to make a defence, with the saintly bishops present according to the intention of the holy canons, and ready to conduct his trial, with the holy Gospels laid in the midst, and the terrific threat pronounced by them hanging over those who turn aside justice.^ But, if even after this letter he shall dare to delay, then after this the same divine statutes of church discipline shall pronounce judgment and the fitting verdict ^ upon him. For we for our part in no way wished the circumstances of his case to remain unknown to the glorious notables also in Antiochus' city: but we even brought these as far as was possible to their knowledge; and we would have urged them and some of the
p« »37- learned rhetors to be judges of the cause,* had it not been that we were hindered by reflecting upon the order of the holy canons, which command that ecclesi-
^ Ps. Ivii. 5, 6. ^ Lu. xiii. 27 (?). ^ d^o<^o<ris. * wd^ccrts.
I. 44, SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 123
astical cases shall be tried and decided by saintly bishops/ and subject to penalties those who pass over these and turn to civil courts.^ And it was for this same reason that we sent the religious Eusebius the •deacon also; for we cannot consent, after the lapse of so many days, to keep the saintly bishops here, when they ought to return to their own flock. The end.
44. Of the same to Eutychian, governor of Apamea. 514-8, (From those during episcopacy, from the Sth book the igoth letter,)
When I compare the reports that have recently come to my hearing with the words spoken by your magnificence when I was leaving the royal city and had reached this citv of Antiochus, I still even now consider these untrustworthy and shrink from setting them down in so many words in this letter. I learn that, when one of those who have been deprived and p. 138. stripped of the high-priestly office was celebrating (as he thinks) the unhallowed memory of martyrs and the initiatory festival and dedication of a certain house, you also went there and took part in a feast that thus contends against God. In order that you may not think that it is from a quarrelsome disposition that we have been led to use such hard words, or rather in order that you may know that what I have written
^ Cf, Mansi vii, 361. 2 SiKaari^pia.
124 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 44.
falls short of the real abomination, I will immediately quote to you the actual canon and law of the Spirit^ and you will know clearly that for a man who is in servitude to the pious king and is the ruler of a people to do anything of the kind without consideration is not a thing free from danger. The canon or law that has been mentioned is as follows: — ** If any bishop, after he has been deprived by a synod, or a presbyter or deacon by his bishop, shall presume to perform any part of the ministry, be he a bishop according to the previously existing custom, or a presbyter or deacon, no hope of restoration even in another synod shall thenceforward be permitted him, nor shall he be permitted an opportunity of defence: but those also who communicate with him shall all be expelled from p- '39- the church, and especially if they have presumed to communicate with the aforesaid persons after they have learned the verdict that has been put forth against them."^ Do you think even after reading this law that it is about small or contemptible matters that we are speaking; or that we do so out of concern for your soul and for your reputation?^ You must therefore abandon this discreditable state of mind, if indeed it really is a state of mind at all, and reflect upon the purpose of God and of our pious king, and of the glorious notables who are earnest upholders of the orthodox faith, and not set yourself in hostility to the saintly Peter bishop of your metropolis in any-
^ Mansi ii. 1309. " v7roA.i7j/ris.
I. 45. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 126
thing, or rather not conceive any thought that is hostile and hateful to God, and to our triumphant, serene, Christ-loving king. The end.
45. Of the same to Conon the brigand-chaser. {From 518-8. those during episcopacy ^ from, the Sth book the 237M letter,)
Concerning the unholy woman who in an unhallowed manner thrust herself into the degree of the diaconate I both wrote to your magnificence before, and am now again writing, though I ascribe the whole affair to an evil demon and to my sins, not to you. However, p. 140. since much contumely is being poured upon me, and for the sake of the blamelessness of ecclesiastical order, and to preserve mere holiness itself, the object of veneration, I legally placed the hateful and all- presumptuous woman under deprivation, stripping her of the supposed office; and she was convicted and even herself confessed that she had been married three times, her third husband being still alive. Therefore you for your part ought not to have recorded against yourself a thing that has been once condoned by me: but you should have been glad and have known clearly that we for our part love you sincerely, and hold you in all veneration and respect. In another letter also I made known to your greatness that the glorious patrician and lieutenant of the Master of the Soldiers ^
^ o-TpanyAxiTTys j cf* p. 60.
126 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 46.
in the East excellent in all good qualities has composed a letter to you which has the force of a command, in which he gives you leave to support the orthodox and the interests of the church with ample freedom and liberty. To speak plainly, in order not to make a long story, you have abundant warrant for displaying your qualities against God s enemies. The end,
p. 141.
618-8. 46. Of the same to the clergymen of Antaradus. {From
those during episcopacy, from the %th book the 264/^^
265/^ letter.)
When I had read your devoutnesses' petitions con- cerning the necessity of a shepherd being nominated for you,^ in accordance with the precepts of the holy canons and the laws of the Spirit, and concerning the articles that belong of right to your holy church, but are unreasonably and unjustly detained by others, after giving due consideration to the whole matter I thought it right to refer the whole case ^ to our serene Christ- loving king and his pious ears. For it is from him after God that we receive useful and satisfactory assist- ance in difficult affairs. Wherefore it is your duty at once to insert in a psephisma three men well-known for virtue and capable of being entrusted with a rational leadership of this kind, in order that we may choose the man who stands highest in these respects, and confer
^ Cf. Mansi viii. 1075.
I. 46. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 127
ordination upon him; or rather present him for the inspiration of the Spirit: for the choice and judgment and bestowal in such matters are from above: since in fact '* every good bestowal and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights/' ^ as the sacred scripture somewhere says. Let this be both considered and performed in this way, and may it be brought to a good end by God! Whereas the devout deacon Stephen has just presented petitions to me and informed me that Leontius, who has lived an p. 142- unhallowed life, but was improperly admitted to ordina- tion as deacon, as if setting himself to act in accordance with his former life, contracted a second marriage after ordination, and after this was by the bishop's judgment struck out of the sacred tablets, and as an indulgence was allowed to minister again, but now wishes to retain deacon's rank and claims to be made head over the others, though he ought not to be ranked even among those that are under a head, how can we neglect the intimation that has been given us, and close our ears to such audacious deeds on his part? Even if it is the case that, while your holy church was without anyone to act as shepherd, the man who then held the post of arch- deacon by a presumptuous action enrolled him in the order of deacons, this action is already in every way in- valid. This man ought therefore to stand entirely out- side the ministry, and to feel the sins that he has com- mitted, and to congratulate himself that he does not gain
1 Ja. i. 17.
128 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 46.
experience of some canonical punishment; not go on further to desire the headship that it is no way proper for him to hold. But the first position in the order of religious deacons shall be held by those who are summoned from among the members of the order. For the present this is the conclusion at which we have arrived: but, if Leontius thinks that he has any right p. 143. founded upon the canons that may help him, let him inform the apostolic see of this; and the fact of the accusation will not do him any harm whatever, if he have truth on his side. If he was conscious of guilt even on one count ^ only of those that were related to us, he ought, he ought indeed to have I'estricted him- self to a modest and humble demeanour, and thought of Him who said by Jeremiah the prophet, ** * Hear these things, foolish people and without understanding, which have eyes and see not, and have ears and hear not! or will ye not fear me,' saith the Lord, *and will ye not tremble at my face, which have placed the sand as a bound for the sea, an everlasting decree, and it shall not pass it?*'** However for our part we feared for his sake owing to the terrible nature of the reports, and were unable to remain silent in such circumstances. And, since the church ministry "requires blameless- ness,'** we decided that he should cease to exercise this, ' in order that we might not seem even to ourselves by acquiescing in the sins that he committed and the deeds that he thought good to do, to be by our silence actually
1 K€<f>dXaiov» 2 Jer. v. 21, 22. ^ Mansi ii. 672.
I. 47. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 129
approving the evil thing, and apply to ourselves the words spoken by God to the same prophet, *' A wonder and a horror has happened upon the earth; the prophets prophesy falsehood, and the priests clapped their hands/* ^
But, since we are always desirous of arriving at the truth, and we know that the magnificent Christ-loving count John is very desirous of this, we have written to his magnificence to examine into the true state of the case, and notify our meanness of it. For in everything let truth and justice be respected; while at the same time the honour of the holy church is preserved, and the ministry has the reverence assigned to it which is its by right, especially by those to whom this ministry p. 144. has been committed, through the benignance and in- effable grace of God. The end.
47. Of the same to Cassian bishop of Bostra. (From 613-.7. those during episcopacy, from the Zth book the 288th letter.)
It is nothing surprising if the prelate of the city of the men of Jerusalem,^ being such in his character and in his faith as everyone knows him to be, but. as I for my part loathe even to take upon my lips, has done this act also which you have mentioned in violation of the holy canons, I mean the act of raising to the bishopric a man who was included in
^ Jer. V. 31. /^ Cf, p. 119.
130 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 48.
the clergy of your holy church. On the contrary one ought to have been surprised if one such as he in his faith and in his character had done anything canonical and according to regulation. We have told this therefore to those who manage o\ir* apokriseis in the royal city.
As to Agapius the devout bishop, we have this much to say, that, if the offences committed by him are of such a nature, this man must be corrected by canonical reproofs: with moderation however on account of the difficulty of the time, and because the man has now "grown old in evil days,** as the sacred scripture says,^ and has already come near to being reckoned with those that are in Hades. For ** God is p- 145» faithful, who will not suffer " ^ those that are not rightly disposed towards Him to outrage the sacred prelacy for a great length of time, so that through them His name should be "blasphemed among the nations,** as it is written.* The end.
618-7. 48. Of the same to Philoxentcs bishop of Hierapolis. {From those during episcopacy y from the loth book the 295M letter?)
Hearing the divine writings which say, " Salvation cometh by much counsel,'** I wish yet now again to ask your sanctity even about a matter upon which we have often already counselled and deliberated. You
^ Su. 52. ^ I Co. X. 13. / Ro. ii. 24. ■* Pr. xxiv. 6.
L 48. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 131
know that those who received ordination for payment and bought for themselves from Flavian the trafficker in all divine things the grace of the Spirit that is not to be bought, alleging ignorance of the strictness of the holy canons, begged you and the other bishops of the other resplendent metropolitan cities that they might obtain forgiveness on the ground of ignorance of the sin. And, though the same said men further brought us letters written in lenient terms from one and another set of persons, even so they did not obtain release from the interdicts. And some of them even went up to the royal city, and showed letters of this kind to those who conduct our apokriseis and to all p. 146. those who are in power and deign to love our mean- ness, and caused them all, though certainly in a friendly manner, to charge me with cruelty. For all being moved to pity for them granted them forgiveness. And, when they returned thence, they did not desist from this course of action, since we even after this would not incline oyr ear to their entreaty and lamentation: but they went to the holy cloisters of the orthodox and moved the chiefs or rulers of the solitary and sacred orders to compassion. And they also, after weeping for the fall of certain persons, in an exactly similar manner and much more earnestly than the others, addressed supplications to us in writing with the object of procuring for them liberation from their evil plight. Being in some sort harassed and troubled by all the facts stated, I have taken the course of asking your holiness by this letter whether
132 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 49.
these men ought to receive forgiveness at the feast of the Epiphany or if they ought not, let your love of God put yourself to a little trouble, and after the feast mentioned repair to this great Christ-loving city of Antiochus, and assist in a course of lenient mild- ness towards men who have sinned from ignorance, a course perhaps not wholly inconsistent with canonical strictness: for they say that the gift was concealed under the name of a present by those gain -hunters, and it deceived them. The end.
p. 147.
619-20. 4g. Of the same to John and John presbyters and archimandrites and the rest, {From those after banishment, Jrom the \st book the SSthy 5S^d letter.)
I am glad and rejoice greatly whenever I write an epistle to your holinesses, and, if one may so say, fancy myself speaking to you as if you were close by me. And after other things. For do not think of me that my concern for the church of the Alexandrines is different from my concern for that of the Antiochenes; I shall not be lying even though I say it is much greater. In fact both the party of the learned Hippocrates, to whom I referred a short time ago, and a very large number of other well-known and distinguished men, who have always concerned them- selves about their own salvation and about the strict observance of the orthodox faith, and those who followed these, through the efforts and endeavours
I. 49. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 133
(to speak with Gods permission) of my wretched miserable self joined the catholic and orthodox church in Egypt; men who as you know for a long time had not communicated, but were satisfied by the minutes ^ of the records 2 drawn up by the blessed Dioscorus who a short time ago departed to God, of which you no doubt have an ison or copy, and are not ignorant of the purport of the things contained in them: since, after the sacred old man had received the epistle p- m8» written by my meanness, in answer to his synodical letter, with hands and feet, as the saying goes, and as far as was possible he complied with my advice and satisfied those who were separated; who often wrote to me in their letters (although it is in folly that I speak), ** It is because we have confidence in your reputation ^ that we have communicated." How then can I neglect such men? or how can it be said that I must not both ** in season and out of season " as the divine Apostle says * search even into small matters, and cut away every cause of stumbling, and remove the stones and cast them out [of] the way that leads.
or to satisfy so-and-so and so-and-so individually, so that all these and men like them were scandalized in that a door for vain speaking was being opened to the contentious. For neither are this time and that alike, nor yet can you on your part avoid doing everything in the capacity of my representatives. For, what you do.
sr/Do^ts* 2 xnrofxvT^fMLTa. ^ VTrdXiyi^ts, * 2 Ti. iv. 2.
134 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 49.
that men will justly reckon to me; for all, both brothers and strangers, both friends and enemies, know clearly that I and you are one, as in fact we are. Accordingly, if any man owing to his imperfect
p. 149 intelligence needs to be directed by pilotage, being carried about like some ship by troubled thoughts, let him be so directed and controlled as not to rouse any storm or tempest against the great ships. Let not your sanctities think that this is the first time that I have been moved to this action. Even while I was living in Antiochus' city, I used to hear it said of the presbyter father Theodore of saintly memory that, when many came to Egypt and asked him whether they ought to communicate, he would answer and say plainly to them, "If you have been satisfied, communi- cate ": and other things that are like this and resemble it. And I endured because it was a time of endurance, and because none of the bishops in the East heard anything of the kind, but the reports were confined to yourselves, and did no great harm. For a man who is doing anything in accordance with God's purpose never halts and hesitates in his action: but he stands firm and steadfast, and increases what he has begun^ like the gift of the talents in the gospels.
And after other things. As to the devout and beloved brother Epimachus, you know how distinct the apostolic statute is through which I also was pre^ vented from laying my hands upon this man, when he came to Antiochus* city, in order that he might conduct
p. 150. my apokriseis in. the royal among cities, in conjunction
I. 49. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 135
with the presbyter Peter of blessed memory, my brother. And, being afraid of the strictness of the canon, I re- strained my desire: and this though I loved the man, I mean the devout Epimachus, not out of human favour, but on account of his devout and modest conduct in the monastic life, and his venerable age and old-fashioned mind. For I saw that the canon of the church every- where ** requires blamelessness";^ and at the same time also I was in the habit of proclaiming to everyone in Antiochus' city, ** No man who has been twice married or labours under any disqualification similar [to this] can [receive] ordination from me/' ....
Therefore take the course of which our Lord shall satisfy you." Accordingly it would not have been right for us, when the thing has been made public, to advance him now to ordination, and let him be a blot in our ministry, as the very wise Paul says,^ us who endeavour with God's help to do everything as far as we can without cause for blame. For we cannot in fact say that the man by his monastic habit and the long life that he has passed in this is able to mitigate the strictness of the canon, seeing that it nowhere in actual words makes any such further provision about the twice- married, and seeing that ** what is rare is not a law of the church," as the Theologian Gregory somewhere p- 15^ says.^ The ninth canon of the three hundred and
1 Mansi ii. 672. ^2 Co. vi. 3. ^ Or. xxxix. 14.
136 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 49.
eighteen holy fathers also plainly says that presbyters who have been put forward without examination shall be set aside, even though it is after ordination that their sin which violates the canon is confessed.^ The twice-married have also a certain definite time pro- vided in the same canons, during which they are excluded from communion,* because these men ought to devote themselves to fastings and prayers. Hence it is very plain that devout conduct after the second marriage is of assistance to them only in the way of penitence, and does not besides this also assist them in obtaining admission to the clergy. We know also the letter written by the saintly archbishop and martyr Dioscorus concerning Irenaeus the twice-married, and the order of Theodosius of truly pious and God-loving memory concerning this man.' These things then being so, it rests with you and with those who disputed with you to consider whether one can extend the appli- cation of the fifty-third canon and compel it to cover the case of a man who, having contracted a second marriage, is ordained without examination, and to come to an agreement with. one another on this point and settle your dispute and doubt. The canon itself is as follows: " If a presbyter be promoted after having previously sinned with his body, and confess that he p. 152- sinned before ordination, he shall not offer: but he shall retain the rest of his functions on account of his zeal in other respects. For in the case of other sins
^ Mansi, Lc. ^ Ibid,^ 563; Bas. Ep. 188. 4. * Mansi v. 420.
1. 49- SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 137
many have said that they are remitted by the mere fact of the laying on of hands. But, if he do not himself confess, and it is not possible for him to be manifestly convicted, the discretion shall rest with Tiimself/'^ Consider therefore whether the devout Epimachus also ought to communicate in the prayers and other things only. But even this I say as an indulgence, not as a command. For the principles laid down by the canon do not refer to an open and noto- rious second marriage, but to other bodily sins that are secret. But for your part, since it is upon you that the burden of judgment is laid, choose the course that seems. to you good: my feebleness cannot write about this: in fact for my part whatever I have given if I have given anything T have given for your sakes as the representative of Christ. However it is with much sorrow and sighing that I have written this (I speak with God as witness), seeing that even to the devout Epimachus himself that which is thought an honour is being turned into a shame, and I too am being driven by the divine precepts to break out into grievous and bitter words. For what we are to say upon the point in question is laid down for us as a law by others. There is another thing that, as upon brief consideration appears to my meanness, would have been just and proper, I mean if you had asked me first and taken my advice, especially since it is now a kind of beginning of our state ^ of banishment. You are not unaware that in p. ^SS-
1 Id,, ii. 542.
138 SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. I. 49.
the case of the man of holy memory also, I mean Peter the bishop, even when he was not ordaining anyone, those who were ordaining took his advice. Timothy too, who bravely endured in the contests of piety, when he was at a distance and was living somewherie far away beyond the boundaries, used to regulate all these things by epistle, and they were carried into effect. However you may allege in defence that I was in hiding and that you did not even know where I am, and that you were in a hurry to satisfy your need, which it would not have been certainly possible to do when you wanted. Another matter, I confess, was very displeasing to me, I mean the fact that certain other men also who rejoice in two disciples only, and those boys, have presented those who are living with them for ordination, so that they are led astray from the very fact of living with them. For a boy who is admitted to an honour which passes his measure exposes himself to shame, while he has for the time brought no small blame on the community.
Your remark that the God-loving Isidore the bishop ought not on account of the persecution to have again laid his hand on those who were ordained deacons by me is lukewarm and cold: for these regulations apply to deacons enrolled in the churches: and to monasteries round about that parish. But to extend this to those p. 154. who are in a province ^ beyond the boundaries and are united with us in respect of the right faith it is not
* €irap\Ca,
I. 49. SELECT LETTERS OF THE HOLY SEVERUS. 139
a fitting season. In the same fashion also the practice of devout women living in their houses being ordained deaconesses is very usual and is diffused, if I may so say, over the whole world.