Letter 45: Severus tells Conon that a woman claiming to be a deaconess has been deprived and that Conon has official authority to support the church.

Severus writes to Conon about a woman who, in his view, unlawfully forced herself into the rank of deaconess. He has written to Conon before and now writes again, though he says he attributes the whole affair to a demon and to his own sins rather than to Conon personally. Because the matter has brought public disgrace on Severus and threatens the integrity of church order, he says he has acted formally. The woman has been deprived of the office she claimed. She was convicted, and she herself admitted that she had been married three times, with her third husband still alive. On that basis Severus stripped her of the supposed diaconal rank. Severus then turns the appeal toward Conon. Conon should not treat Severus' earlier leniency as something to use against himself. He should recognize instead that Severus sincerely respects him and wants him to act with confidence. Severus has already told him that the patrician who serves as lieutenant of the Master of the Soldiers in the East, a man of excellent character, has written a letter with the force of an order, giving Conon full freedom to support the orthodox and the church's interests. The conclusion is blunt: Conon has all the authority he needs to use his office against God's enemies. Severus does not want a long explanation; he wants Conon to act.

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, 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 allpresumptuous 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 ^ ^ (jTparr] aTy]<i; cf. 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.