Letter 39: Severus asks Apamea to move from factional division to a united episcopal election.

Severus writes jointly to the clergy and notables of Apamea because the election of a bishop for the metropolis has become divided. Concord is pleasing to God, he says, and the law of piety requires that clergy and civic leaders deliberate together when a bishop is chosen. The pious king has also confirmed that principle. Severus had already tried to help when the factions could not agree. Without personal passion, he nominated the presbyter Cosmas, whom many considered suitable, but Cosmas refused because he understood the weight of the office. Severus therefore returns to the proper path: the Apamenes must unite around a common vote, and he writes to clergy and notables together to model the unity he is asking from them. Their task is to submit three names in a psephisma, free from prejudice, quarrelsomeness, favor, and private pressure. The candidates must first be sound in the orthodox faith and in communion with Severus. They must also be free from greed, trained in virtue, able to rule instead of being ruled by those under them, humble, intelligent, and practiced in divine teaching. Severus' strictness is not self-importance. He wants the church to avoid wandering from what is right, and he insists that even sinners must not be careless when naming bishops.

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. two of you shall agree on earth touching any matter whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be clone for them by my Father which is in heaven "; ^ and in the statute p- 124. 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- lovine kinor also ratified." Wherefore we uree 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 ot 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 vou 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. 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 unwashed 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 also 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 we in no point fall short of the principles about which many concern themselves