St. Severus of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch, AD 512–538 · Patron of our parish
The history of Oriental Orthodoxy is incomplete without the contributions of St. Severus of Antioch, who led the Church of Antioch from AD 512 to AD 538 as its Patriarch. He is venerated as a saint in the Oriental Orthodox Church for his deep asceticism, his monastic life, and his profound understanding and interpretation of Christian doctrine. Severus was one of the most important church figures of the first half of the sixth century and a strong opponent of the Council of Chalcedon.
His Life
Severus was born in the city of Sozopolis in AD 465. In AD 485 he travelled to Alexandria to study grammar, rhetoric and philosophy. In AD 486 he travelled to Phoenicia and studied law and philosophy at a law school. Severus then adopted a monastic life and practised severe asceticism. He started a monastery at Gaza and began to attract disciples.
Nephalios, a monk who supported the Chalcedonian position, at the insistence of Patriarch Elias of Jerusalem, expelled Severus and others who taught against the Council of Chalcedon from their monasteries. Severus then went to Constantinople to bring the matter before the Christ-loving Emperor Anastasius, and with the emperor's support he was able to take back the monastery. In AD 512, Severus was raised to the Patriarchal throne of Antioch.
Justin I, a Chalcedonian, succeeded Emperor Anastasius. The new emperor deposed Severus and ordered his arrest when he refused to accept the Council of Chalcedon. Severus fled to Egypt and spent the rest of his life in exile, still leading the Church. He died on 8 February 538 and was buried in the Enaton Monastery. His relics are preserved to this day in the Monastery of St. Mina in Egypt.
His Works
The works of the saint include 295 Manithos (hymns), two Qurbana Thaksa (liturgies), 125 cathedral homilies, the Philalethes written against the teachings of Nephalios, writings against the teachings of John the Grammarian and Julian of Halicarnassus, and an interpretation of the Henotikon, along with many other writings against the heresies of his time. His contribution to liturgical music, especially the Octoechos (eight-mode) system of Oriental Orthodox music, is invaluable.
His works show that he was not only unique in his generation, but also unequalled among the Patriarchs of Antioch who came before or after him. St. Severus is rightly honoured with the great commemoration in the Fifth Diptych.
“The crown of Syrians, the eloquent mouth, the pillar and the doctor of the Holy Church of God as a whole, the meadow abounding in blossom, and who preached all the time that Mary was undoubtedly the God-bearer.”
“സുറിയാനിക്കാരുടെ കിരീടവും, ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വിശുദ്ധ സഭ മുഴുവന്റെയും വിവേകമുള്ള വായും തൂണും മല്പാനും, പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് നിറഞ്ഞ മേച്ചിൽ സ്ഥലവും, മറിയാം സംശയം കൂടാതെ ദൈവമാതാവെന്ന് എല്ലായ്പോഴും പ്രസംഗിച്ചവനുമായ മാർ സേവേറിയോസ്”
പരിശുദ്ധ സേവേറിയോസ് പിതാവിനെപ്പറ്റി അഞ്ചാം തുബ്ദേൻ
Our Parish and St. Severus
Very few parishes in the Oriental Orthodox Churches are dedicated to this saint. Vayalathala Mar Severios Sleeba Orthodox Church is the only church in Malankara dedicated to St. Severus of Antioch. His memorial feast, the parish feast, is celebrated every year on Kumbham 8 and 9. Many people of all faiths join the feast and receive blessings, and the intercession of St. Severus continues to bring comfort to the sick and the sorrowful.