Letter 103: Severus asks Stephen to examine Marinus' kinsman for clergy and not to ordain John without his archimandrite.

I have thought it necessary to commend to Your God-loving Reverence the man who brings this letter and to explain why he has come. The magnificent and Christ-loving Marinus wrote that the man is his kinsman and needs assistance. Because of his retiring character he would not throw himself into political affairs for relief, but thought it suited to his habits to be included among the clergy of Apamea, since he is from that region. After examining his way of life, as far as human judgment can, I found that he had not neglected modest conduct. You should examine him further with suitable people, and you will see that he is not unworthy of such a favor. In doing this, we will pay a just debt to Marinus, who takes much concern for our affairs. As for John the monk, his fathers have written that he left their monastery without their counsel and even sought ordination here on his own authority. Do not lay a daring hand on him until his archimandrite consents, lest we break the holy ordinances of churches and monasteries.

I have thought it necessary to commend to your love of God the man who brings you this letter, and to State the reason for which he has come to you. The magnificent and Christ-loving Marinus wrote to me to p. 429- say that the man is his kinsman, and that he is in need of some assistance, as many say; and that by reason of his retiring character he would not consent to throw himself into political affairs and obtain relief from that source: but he thouofht it suited to his habits to be included among the clergy of the city of the Apamenes: for he is in fact also from that same country. There- fore he asked in his letter that this might be carried out for him in actual fact. And I after inves- tigating the man's mode of life found, as far as was possible for men, that he had not neglected modesty of conduct. But do you also with men fitted for this purpose examine the man further, and you will know that he is not one unworthy of such a favour. This presupposed, we shall be paying a very just debt to the magnificent and Christ-loving Marinus, who con- cerns himself much about our affairs, if we include the man among the clergy of the holy church of the Apamenes, and admit him to the order of the diaconate. So much for this matter. As to the circumstances of the time, I beg you to remember our humble admonitions, and do all things with discretion, and reckon all other things second to the integrity of the orthodox faith, in order that you may appear perfect and say like Paul, " I can do all things, in Christ which strengtheneth me." ^ p. 430. The men of the blessed 'Akiba have written to me about John the monk, who has betaken himself to a temporary retirement with you, to the effect that it was not by their counsel that he removed from their monas- tery, but also that here too he sought to be ordained on his own authority ^ (I must use their words); and this they explained not only by their letter, but also by sending devout monks here. Accordingly I beg you not to lay a daring hand upon him until his archi- mandrite gives his consent; lest we be found to be incurring blame, as breaking the holy ordinances of the churches and of the monasteries