Feast day: February 12

St. Meletius of Antioch

Bishop · d. 381

Patron of Peacemakers

A gentle bishop of Antioch repeatedly exiled by emperors during the Arian crisis, who presided over the great Council of Constantinople and died in its midst.

Meletius became bishop of the great see of Antioch in 360, at the height of the Arian controversy over whether Christ is truly God. He was elected with the support of the Arians, who believed him to be one of their own — but in his very first sermon he proclaimed the orthodox, Nicene faith, and within weeks the disappointed Arians had him deposed and exiled.

His troubles did not end there. A group of strict Nicene Christians at Antioch, the 'Eustathians,' distrusted him precisely because the heretics had first chosen him, and refused to accept him even after his orthodoxy was beyond doubt. The result was the long and painful 'Meletian Schism,' which divided the orthodox of Antioch among themselves for decades.

Exiled repeatedly as emperors changed, Meletius bore the divisions with patience and was revered for his gentleness; the young St. John Chrysostom was among those he ordained.

In 381 he presided over the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, which completed the Nicene Creed — but he died while the council was still sitting, and St. Gregory of Nyssa preached his funeral oration. He is honoured as a saint and confessor.

He was driven from his see three times yet kept his temper and charity; St. John Chrysostom, whom he baptized, never forgot him.

Source: newadvent.org/cathen/10161b.htm