Severinus fixed his residence in the neighborhood of Faviana, a town on the Danube near where the modern PiJchlarn stands, and engaged in the practice of a rigid asceticism. He also founded a monaster}' and gathered a large number of pupils, whom he trained, by precept and example, to imitate the virtues of the early Chris- tians and to avoid the corrupt manners of the world. He never partook of food before sundown except on feast-days, walked constantly with bare feet, and al- ways slept on a cilicium spread on the bare floor of his chamber. But, not content with fulfilling his vow in the most faithful manner, he also frequently traversed the country to preach the Gospel, to comfort the Chris- tian communities, who were incessantly ravaged by the predatory assaults of barbarous hordes, and to admonish them to avert the threatening dangers by prayers and good works, and to faithfully pay tithes for the support of the poor. He was also indefatigable in laboring to secure the liberation of imprisoned Christians, in heal- ing the sick, and in entertaining and aiding helpless fugitives. Being endowed with the ability to form a correct estimate of existing conditions, he was frequent- ly able to point out the places which were exposed to attacks from the enemy, and he never failed to give timely warning of danger and to suggest proper meas- ures of defence. His reputation accordingly increased more and more, so that he was barelv able to attcntl to all the requests addressed to him for instruction, coun- sel, comfort, and aid. Even the famous Odoacer, leader of the Rugians and Herulians, did not disdain to seek him and ask for his counsel and blessing when about to engage in his expedition to Italy in A.D. 476.
The zeal displayed by Severinus for the outward wel- fare of the people and for the success of Christianity led several congregations to make liim their i)ishop; but he ileoliiK'd the office on tlie ground that he preferred liis solitude. The later years of liis life wore disturbed by the incursions of the Alemanni and the Rugians, One of the latest acts of his life was an attempt to persuade the Rugiau king Fava, or Fcletheus, and his cruel queen, (Jisa, to refrain from hostilities against the Noricans, He died Jau,8, 4x2, and was eventually buried in Italy, first at jNIonte Feltre, and afterwards on a small island near Naples, where a costly tomb had been erected for him by a noblewoman. Christianity had been firmly estalilished in Noricum during his life; the bishopric of Lohr, subsequently transferred toPassau, had already
SEVERINUS
604
SEWALL
been fountlcd (Vita S. c. 30), and three others (Teur- nia, or Tiburnia, Celleia, now Cilley, and ^Emona, now Laybach, whose bishops are recorded among the mem- bers of a synod held at Grado in 579) were established in the course of the next centnry.
Literature. — Eugippus, Vita S. Severini, in M. Wel- seri 0pp. Hist, et Phil. (Xorimb. 1G72), p. 031 sq., and in I'ez, Scriptt. Rer, A ustr. i, G2 sq. ; the Bollandists' A eta SS. ad Jan. 8. See also Mannert, Geogr, d. Griechen u. ROmer, iii, 528 sq. ; Forbiger, Handb. d. alt. Geof/r. iii, 455 sq. ; Muchar, Das rom. Noricum, ^tc. (Griitz, 1825, 2 pts. 8vo); jMascou, Gesch. d. Teutsehen, etc., II, ii, 2, and xiii, 3C) ; Stritter, Memoiice Populorum olini ad Dunub., etc. (St. Petersburg, 1771-74, 2 vols. 4to); Mosheim, De Rebus Clirist. etc., p. 211 sq. ; Eleury, IJist. Eccles. vi, 839 sq. ; Schrockh, Chiistliche Kirchencje- schichte, xvi, 261 sq. ; Eettberg, Kirchen(/esch. Deutsch- lands (Gcitt. 1846), i, 8, 21, 34. — lierzog, Real-Ency- lilop. s. V.
Severinus, pope from 638 to 640, and successor of Ilonorius I. The Monotlielite troubles led to the post- poning of his confirmation by the emperor Heraclius until G40, when it was obtained on the pledge of his legates that the Roman clergy should subscribe to the emperor's Ecthesis (q. v.). He was enthroned May 28, and died Aug. 1 following. Ho condemnetl the Ecthesis, and consequently the Monothelite doctrine. — Herzog, Real-Enr/jklop. s. V.
Seveiites. See Angelites.
Severus, founder of the Gnostic sect named after liim Scvcriaus (q. v.). lie came from Sozopolis to Pisid- ia, and while a pagan was a lawyer. Eeceiving bap- tism at Tripoli, in Phoenicia, he became a monk and united himself with a society of zealous Monophysitos. Banished, he came to Constantinople to seek protection from the emperor. He told him that the defence of the Chalcedonian Council was the cause of all the disturb- ances, and sought to introduce a certain addition to the old and venerated Church song the Trisagion which might serve as the basis of a coalition between the op- posing parties. Later, in the reign of Justin, Severus, who had managed to become patriarch of Antioch, saved his life by fleeing to Egypt. He returned to Constan- tinople with Antliimus, under the protection of the em- press Theodora ; but Justinian, finding that he had been imposed upon by the Monophysites, deposed Anthimus, and decreed that " the writings of Severus should be burned, and none should be permitted either to own or transcribe them." — Neander, Ch. Hist, ii, 531 sq.
Severus, SuLncius, St., was bom about 363, of a prominent family, and in manhood shone for a time as a forensic orator. He married the daughter of a wealthy consul; but she died about 392, and he spent the remainder of his life in monastic seclusion with a few like-minded persons, in Aquitaine. He was an ad- mirer of Martin of Tours, whom he repeatedly visited. Gcnnadius states that he was gained over to Pelagian- ism when in his old age, and that he had expressed himself in favor of that system ; but that, having dis- covered his error, he imposed on himself perpetual si- lence as a penance. He died at Marseilles, whither he had retired, soon after A.I). 410. The writings of Se- verus are, Vita S. Martini Turonensis, with legendary embellishments: — HIstnria tSacra, or Chronica Sacra, containing Jewish and Church history to A.I). 400, in- terspersed with marvels, but written in a flowing style: ■ — Dialofji Tres, written about A.U. 405, and treating in part of the monastic life and virtues, in part of the, mer- its of Martin of Tours; finally, some letters of no im- portance and doubtful authenticity (see Biihr, Christl. rom. 'J'heol. p. 218-222). The works of Severus have been separately published in various editions; the best complete edition is that of Hieronynius de Prato (Vero- na, 1751-54), without the letters. A reprint from this ed. witli the letters added is given in Gallaudi, Hibl. Patrum, viii, 355 sq. — Herzog, Ueal-Encyklup, s. v.