Severus of Antioch

Highlights

Main contribution

Patriarch of Antioch (512-518) and the most important systematic theologian of miaphysite (non-Chalcedonian) Christianity.

Primary source

Severus of Antioch, Liber contra impium Grammaticum

Sources for biography

• Severus of Antioch, Liber contra impium Grammaticum primary
• Severus of Antioch, Cathedral Homilies primary
• Zachariah Rhetor, Vita Severi primary
• Severus of Antioch, Select Letters (ed. E. W. Brooks) primary
• ODCC s.v. Severus secondary

documented connections(4)

• opposed Leontius of Byzantium
  Severus' miaphysite Christology was the principal target of Chalcedonian neo-Chalcedonian theologians like Leontius.
  Leontius of Byzantium, Contra Nestorianos et Eutychianos · Severus, Liber contra impium Grammaticum
• cited Cyril of Alexandria
  Severus appealed to Cyril's mia physis formula as the basis of his Christology.
  Severus, Liber contra impium Grammaticum
• opposed (incoming) Anastasius of Sinai
  Anastasius' Hodegos is a sustained refutation of Severan miaphysite Christology.
  Anastasius of Sinai, Viae Dux
• opposed Pope Leo I
  Severus rejected the Tome of Leo and the Christological definition of Chalcedon (451), polemicising against Leo's two-natures formula across his letters and treatises (e.g. Contra impium Grammaticum, Philalethes).
  Severus of Antioch, Liber contra impium Grammaticum · Severus of Antioch, Philalethes · ODCC s.v. Severus

tradition connections(1)

• corresponded (incoming) Jacob of Serugh
  A small corpus of letters attributed to Jacob includes correspondence with Severus's miaphysite circle; the authenticity of individual letters is debated but the broader correspondence is generally accepted.
  Jacob of Serugh, Letters (ed. Olinder) · ODCC s.v. James of Sarug

External resources