He continued contact with him right through until he died four years before Augustine did.
Like Augustine himself, Severus a native of
Thagaste, and a fellow student with Augustine.
As a friend, he was
in Milan when Augustine was there, and was at that time a baptised Christian.
Along with Severus, other persons willing to move from Milan to Thagaste were Alypius, who was another friend of Augustine and the one who was
baptised beside Augustine,
Adeodatus, who was the son of Augustine, and
Monica, who was the mother of Augustine.
A final member of the intended travelling party was
Evodius.
.
He joined the
priestly community that Augustine attached to the house of the bishop at Hippo.
In Sermon 356 there is a deacon by the name of Severus mentioned by Augustine as being there.
When later a bishop himself, Severus followed the example of Augustine and lived in community in his episcopal house at Milevi (or Milevus).
Early in his episcopate, probably in the year 401, Augustine,
Alypius, and Samsucius had to explain their conduct in the matter of Timotheus and to call on Severus to accept their explanation (Letters 62 and 63).
This temporary mistake in understanding did not interrupt his friendship with Augustine, nor cause any ill-will on his part towards Timotheus. (Ennarationes in Psalmos 95. 1; City of God 21, 4)
In a letter somewhat later, perhaps in the year 406, addressed to Novatus, Augustine regretted often being unable to see his old friend.
Severus wrote infrequently, and then chiefly on business. This was not because of a lack of goodwill but from the pressure of his work. (Letter 84)
(Continued on the next page.)
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