Letter 34: Severus tells the Apamene bishops to gather canonically and sends a reader with the formal summons.

Severus writes again to the suffragan bishops under Apamea with a practical summons. Weak as he is, he says, he still must serve the peace and order of the churches. Bishops are not meant to drift apart into private courses. They must gather at the proper times, deliberate together, and heal disputes before they harden into schism. He reminds them of the canonical expectation that bishops meet in synod, traditionally twice each year, for the benefit of the whole province. The purpose is not ceremony but the union and health of the churches. Severus sends a reader from the apostolic see to carry the instruction and to make clear that this is a formal summons, not a casual suggestion.

Though we are weak and in deeds fail to keep to the way of the fathers, in that we are incHned to sloth and negligence, vet still as regards the orthodox faith, in accordance with the apostolic command, we prove our- selves to see if we are in the faith, and examine our- selves to see if Christ is in us: ^ and we know^ that in this we are not reprobate through grace from above. Whereas it is written in the holy canons of the fathers that the God-loving bishops in each administrative district ought to assemble together twice a year to deal with uro-ent matters that occur,- in due season we summon your love of God and urge you to come at once to us, and betake yourselves to the apostolic throne with the other saintly bishops, respecting matters that will assist and further the union of God's holy churches; which is a matter of concern and of earnest endeavour both to God himself and to our pious Christ-loving king. This we have made known p- "4' to you all both individually and generally, and for this very same reason we have sent you so-and-so the devout reader of our apostolic see