Epiphanius bas dealt so
leniently
with him.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
3.
A son of Ptolemy Soter and Eurydice,
His conduct on that occasion is differently related. daughter of Antipater, succeeded his brother Pro-
According to Justin, he was the first to propose in lemy Ceraunus on the throne of Macedonia, after
the council of officers, that either Arrhidaeus or the latter had fallen in battle against the Gauls
Heracles the son of Barsine should at once be (B. C. 280); but was compelled by the Macedonian
chosen king, instead of waiting for the chance of troops to resign the crown, after a reign of only
Roxana bearing a son. Curtius, on the contrary, two months. (Euseb. Arm. pp. 156, 157, Dexippus,
represents him as breaking out into violent in- ap. Syncell. pp. 267, 270. ) His reign is omitted by
vectives against the ambition of Perdiccas, and Justin.
[E. H. B. )
abruptly quitting the assembly, in order to excite MELEA'GER (Menéaypos), son of Eucrates,
the soldiery to a tumult. Diodorus, again, states the celebrated writer and collector of epigrams,
that he was sent by the assembled generals to was a native of Gadara in Palestine, and lived
appease the clamours and discontent of the troops, about B. C. 60. There are 131 of his epigrams in
but instead of doing so he himself joined the the Greek Anthology, written in a good Greek
mutineers. In any case it is certain that Meleager style, though somewhat affected, and distinguished
early assumed the lead of the opposition to Perdic- by sophistic acumen and amatory fancy. (Brunck,
cas and his party ; and placed himself at the head of Anal. vol. i. pp. 1–38 ; Jacobs, Anth. (craec. vol.
the infantry, who had declared themselves (probably i: pp. 1–40, vol. xiii. pp. 639, 698, 915, 916;
at his instigation) in favour of the claims of Arrhi- Fabric
. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv. pp. 416—420. ) Be-
daeus to the vacant throne. Meleager even went 50 sides the various editions of the Greek Anthology,
far as to order the execution of Perdiccas, without there are separate editions of the epigrams of Me
any express authority from his puppet of a king ; leager, for which see Fabricius. An account of his
but this project was disconcerted by the boldness Etépavos, or collection of epigrams, is given under
of the regent: and the greater part of the cavalry, PLANUDES.
[P. S. )
together with almost all the generals, sided with MELES (Méans), an Athenian, who was be-
Perdiccas, and, quitting Babylon, established them- loved by Timagoras, but refused to listen to him,
selves in a separate camp without the walls of the and ordered him to leap from the rock of the acro-
city. Matters thus seemed tending to an open polis. Timagoras, who was only a metoikos at
rupture, but a reconciliation was effected, principally | Athens, did as he was bid; but Meles, repenting
by the intervention of Eumenes, and it was agreed of his cruel command, likewise threw himself from
that the royal authority should be divided between the rock ; and the Athenians from that time are
Arrhidaeus and the expected son of Roxana, and said to have worshipped Anteros, as the avenger
that in the mean time Meleager should be asso- of Timagoras. (Paus. i. 30. $ 1. )
ciated with Perdiccas in the regency.
It was,
Meles is also the god of the river Meles, near
however, evidently impossible that these two should | Smyrna ; and this river-god was believed by some
long continue on really friendly terms, and Me- to have been the father of Homer. (Vit. Script.
leager proved no match for his wily and designing Graec. p. 27, ed. Westermann. )
p.
[L. S. ]
antagonist. Perdiccas contrived by his profound MELES (Méans). 1. Of Colophon, the father
dissimulation, to lull his rival into fancied security, of the poet Polymnestus (Plut. de Mus. p. 1133, a. ).
while he made himself master both of the person 2. Of Athens, the father of the dithyrambic
and the disposition of the imbecile Arrhidaeus, of poet Cinesias, was himself also a dithyrambic poet,
which he immediately took advantage, and hastened and is ranked by Pherecrates as the worst of all
to strike the first blow. The whole army was the citharoedic poets of his day (Schol. ad Aristoph.
assembled under pretence of a general review and Av. 858). Plato also tells us that his performances
lustration, when the king, at the instigation of annoyed the audience (Gorg. p. 502). '. (P. S. ]
Perdiccas, suddenly demanded the surrender and MELESA GORAS. (AMELESAGORAS. )-
punishment of all the leaders in the late disorders. MELESIPPUS (MEAñOITTOS), a Lacedaemo.
The infantry were taken by surprise, and unable to nian, son of Diacritus, was one of the three ambas
offer any resistance ; 300 of the alleged muti- sadors sent to Athens in B. C. 432, just before the
neers were singled out, and instantly executed ; commencement of the Peloponnesian war, with the
and though Meleager himself was not personally final demand of Lacedaemon for the restoration of
attacked, he deemed it necessary to provide for his the independence of all the Greek states. By the
safety by flight, and took refuge in a temple, where advice of Pericles, the Athenians refused compli-
he was quickly pursued and put to death by order ance. In the following year, when Archidamus
of Perdiccas. . (Curt. 1. 21-29; Justin. xii. was on his march to invade Attica, be again sent
>
## p. 1018 (#1034) ##########################################
1018
MELETIUS.
MELETIUS.
Не еn
ing De
Ескер
Toura!
Pat's
pranie
Gaia
Jorian
Toli
Lecce
to bir
on F
agre
day.
Me
by FL
Ensta
Espre
Great
(Secte
9;s
jr. 13
Greg
Epatos
Atin
Epipl
Melesippus to Athens, in the hope of effecting aſ the church, to his native country, Melitene, while
Degotiation; but the Athenians would not even Euzoius was appointed bishop of Antioch in his
admit him to a hearing. (Thuc. i. 139—145, ii. room (A. D. 361). This step led to an immediate
12. )
(E. E. ) and extensive schism : the orthodox party broke
ME'LETE (Menéan), the name of one of the off from the communion of the Arians, and met in
Muses. (Pausanias, ix. 29. § 2 ; compare Mu- the church of the Apostles, in what was called the
SAE. )
[L. S. ] old town of Antioch. There had been a previous
MELETIUS (MEMÉTLOS), literary and ecclesias- secession of the more zealous part of the orthodox
tical.
on occasion of the deposition of Eustathius (A. D.
1. Of Antioch, an eminent Greek ecclesiastic | 331), but the two seceding bodies remained separate,
of the fourth century. He was born at Melitene, the Eustathians objecting that Meletius had been or-
near the right bank of the Euphrates, in the dis- dained by Arians. On the accession of the emperor
trict of Melitene, in Armenia Minor. His parents Julian Meletius returned to Antioch (A. D. 362),
were persons of rank, at least of respectable condi- I and the most earnest endeavours were made to ns
tion (Gregor. Nyssen. Oratio hubit. in funere concile the two sections of the orthodox party : but
Meletii), and he probably inherited from them an though the death of Eustathius seemed to present
estate which he possessed in Armenia (Basil. a fair opportunity for such reconciliation, all the
Epist. 187, editt. vett. , 99, ed. Benedict. ) His efforts made were frustrated by the intemperate
gentleness of disposition, general excellence of cha- zeal of Lucifer of Cugliari (LUCIFER), who ordained
racter, and persuasive eloquence, acquired for him Paulinus bishop of the Eustathians. Meanwhile,
a high reputation : but his first bishopric, that of the Arians appear to have retained possession of
Sebaste, in Armenia, in which he succeeded Eus- most of the churches, the orthodox having one or
tathius (EustathIUS, No. 7), apparently after two assigned for their use, of which, however, on
the latter had been deposed in the council of Meli- the accession of the emperor Valens, they were de
tene (A. n. 357), proved so troublesome, through prived, and Meletius was again (A. D. 365? ) ba-
the contumacy of his people, that he withdrew nished from the city. According to Tillemont, who
from his charge and retired to Beroes, now Aleppo grounds his assertion on two passages of Gregory
• in Syria, of which city, according to one rendering of Nyssen (ibid. ), Meletius was twice banished under
a doubtful expression in Socrates, he became bishop. Valens, or three times in all, which supposes
The East was at this time torn with the Arian contro- a return from his first banishment under that
versy ; but the character of Meletius won the respect prince. Gregory's assertion, however, is not eor-
of both parties, and each appears to have regarded roborated by any of the ecclesiastical bistorians ;
him as belonging to them, a result promoted by and we have no means of determining the dates of
his dwelling, in his discourses, on practical rather Meletius's return and subsequent exile, if they
than polemical subjects. According to Philostor- really took place. Tillemont thinks he was recalled
gius he feigned himself an Arian, and subscribed in A. D. 367 at latest, and places his last banish-
the Confession of the Western bishops, probably ment in A. D. 371. During his exile his party
that of Ariminum ; and, according to Socrates, he were directed by Flavian and Diodorus. (Fla-
subscribed the creed of the Acacians, at Seleuceia VIANUS, No. 1 ; DIODORUS, No. 3. ) He was
in a. D. 359. These concurrent testimonies fix on recalled on the death of Valens A. D. 378, but the
him the charge either of instability or dissimulation. edict of Gratian, wbich recalled all those who were
Still his real tendency to the Hoinoousian doctrine in exile, allowed the Arians (who had chosen Do-
was known to or suspected by many ; and, there- rotheus their bishop in the room of Euzoius, now
fore, when, by the influence of Acacius and the deceased) to retain the churches which they occu-
Arians, he was appointed to the see of Antioch pied ; however they were after a time delivered
(A. D. 360 or 361), all the bishops, clergy, and up to Meletius, who again manifested his anxiety
people of the city and neighbourhood, Arians and to heal the schism between his own party and the
Orthodox, went out to meet him. Even the Jews Eustathians ; but his equitable offers were rejected
and Heathens flocked to see a person who had al- by his more tenacious rival Paulinus. In A. D.
ready attained so great celebrity. For a time, but 381 Meletius was at Constantinople at the second
apparently a very short time, he confined himself general council, and died in that city during its
to practical subjects, avoiding or speaking ambi- session. His body was conveyed with great honour
guously on the doctrines in dispute between the to Antioch, and deposited close to the tomb of the
contending parties, but presently gave more open martyr Babylas. His funeral oration, pronounced
indications of his adherence to the orthodox party. | by Gregory Nyssen, is extant. There is no reason
It was probably to draw out his sentiments more to doubt the truth of the encomiums bestowed on
distinctly that he was desired by the emperor the gentleness of his temper and general kindness
Constantius to give an exposition of the passage, of his disposition: that these very qualities, com-
Prov. viii. 22. [GEORGIUS, No. 29. ] He was bined perhaps with indifference to the points in
preceded in the pulpit by George of Laodiceia and dispute, rendered him more pliant in the earlier
by Acacius of Caesareia, who gave explanations part of his life than was consistent with strict in-
more or less heterodox; and when Meletius in his tegrity, at least with consistency. But from the
turn came to speak, and avowed his adherence to time of his elevation to the see of Antioch, there is
the orthodox doctrine, a scene of great excitement no need to doubt bis consistent adherence to what
ensued, the people applauding, and the Arians he judged to be the truth. In the Western church,
among the clergy, especially the archdeacon, at- indeed, which fraternized with the ultra party of
tempting to stop his mouth. Determined now to the Eustathians, his reputation was lower : he was
get rid of him, the Arians charged him with Sa- regarded as an Arian, and it was long before the
bellianism, and persuaded the emperor to depose imputation was removed. A short piece, ascribed
him and banish him, apparently on a charge either to Athanasius, and published with his works (vol.
of perjury or of having violated the discipline of | . i. p. 30, ed. Benedict. ), but the genuineness of
Tiller
Hist,
1740-
Galat
ll;
vol i
2.
3
third
discre
Accor
Mele
Mele
Етр
tian
feed
this
Petru
deter
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Peter
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influe
.
lower
aruse
to the
eccles
hare
Atha
more
Atha
be w
forni
## p. 1019 (#1035) ##########################################
MELETIUS.
1019
MELETIUS.
which is very doubtful, charges him with hypocrisy. | (which left him the title of bishop, though it de-
He enjoyed the friendship of Basil and other lead- prived him of the power to ordain) would have
ing men of the orthodox party.
Epiphanius bas dealt so leniently with him. The Council allowed
spoken favourably of him, but Jerome is less fa- those whom he had ordained to retain the priestly
vourable, owing, probably, to his connection with office, on condition of re-ordination, and of their
Paulinus. A part of the first sermon preached by 1 yielding precedence to those whose first ordination
Meletius at Antioch has been preserved by Epi- had been regular. The schism begun in prison
phanius, and is given in the Bibliotheca Patrum of was continued in the mines of Phaenon, in Arabia
Galland, vol. v. A synodical epistle to the emperor | Petraea, to which Meletius and others were ba-
Jovian, given by Socrates (H. E. iii. 25), and So- nished, and after their release. Meletius ordained
zomen (H. E. vi. 4), and reprinted in the Concilia, bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and kept his fol-
vol. i. col. 741, ed. Hardouin, and in the Biblio- lowers a distinct body, under the title of the
theca of Galland, vol. v. , mny perhaps be ascribed Church of the Martyrs. " He even extended his
to him. The Greek Church honours his memory sect into Palestine, where he visited Jerusalem,
on February the 12th, and the Latin Church at Eleutheropolis, and Gaza, and ordained many in
last received him into the calendar on the same those towns to the priesthood. In this state
day.
matters remained till the Nicene Council (A. D.
Meletius was succeeded in the see of Antioch 325), the sentence of which has been already
by Flavian [FLAVIANUS, No. 1], under whom the mentioned. The synodical letter to the Egyptian
Eustathian schism was at length healed, and the clergy, which notities the sentence, gives no in-
suppression of the Arians under Theodosius the formation as to the origin of the schism: it de-
Great restored for a while the unity of the see. scribes, indeed, Meletius as disorderly, hasty, and
(Socrates, H. E. ii. 43, 44, iii. 6, 9, iv. 2, v. 3, 5, headstrong ; characteristics more in harmony with
9 ; Sozomen, H. E. iv. 25, 28, v. 12, 13, vi. 7, the conduct ascribed to him by Epiphanius, than
vii. 3, 7, 8, 10; Theodoret. H. E. ii. 3), iii. 3, 4, with the charges of Athanasius.
iv. 13. 25, v. 3, 8; Philostorg. H. E. v. 1,5; There is no dispute that the theological senti-
Greg. Nyssen. Orat. in Fun. Meletii habita ; Basil. ments of the Meletians were at first what is deemed
Epistolae, d. lvi. Ivii. Iviii. lix. lxiv. cclxxiii. cccxxi. orthodox ; and, according to Epiphanius, Meletius
cccxxv. cccxlix. editt. vett. , or lvii. lxvii. lxviii. lxxxix. was the first to detect the heretical teachings of
cxx. cxxix. ccx. ccxiv. cclviii. cclxvi. edit. Benedict. ; Arius, and to report them to Alexander, bishop of
Epiph. Haeres. lxxiii. 28—35; Hieron. in Chra | Alexandria. Meletius died very shortly after the
nico ; Concilia, vol. i. p. 731, 741, ed. Hardouin ; Council of Nice, for Alexander, who himself only
Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. viii. p. 341, &c. ; Cave, survived the council about five months, lived long
Hist. Litt. ad ann. 360, vol. i. p. 223, ed. Oxford, enough to persecute the followers of Meletius after
1740—43; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. ix. p. 304 ; their leader's death, because, deeming Meletius ill-
Galland. Biblioth. Patrum. Proleg. ad Vol. V. c. created, they would not accept the terms of recon-
ll; Le Quien, Oriens Christian. vol. i. col. 423, ciliation offered by the Council. The schism con-
vol. ii. col. 713, &c. , 781. )
tinued under the leadership of John Arcaph, whom
2. IATROSOPHISTA. [No. 6. ]
Meletius had appointed to succeed him (JOANNES,
3. Of LYCOPOLIS, a schismatical bishop of the No. 16); and the Meletians co-operated with the
third and fourth centuries. There is a remarkable Arians in their hostility to Athanasius [ATHA-
discrepancy in the accounts given of this person. NASIUS] ; an alliance more conducive to the grati-
According to Athanasius, whose contests with the fication of their revenge than to the maintenance
Meletians render his testimony less trustworthy, of their orthodoxy. (Athanas. A pol. contra Arian,
Meletius, who was bishop of Lycopolis in Upper c. 59; Epiphan. Haeres. lxviii. 1-5 ; Socrat. H.
Egypt at the time of the persecution under Diocle- E. i. 6, 9 ; Sozomen, H. E. i. 24, ii. 21 ; Theo-
tian and his successors, yielded to fear and sacri- doret. H. E. i. 9; Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. v. p.
ficed to idols ; and being subsequently deposed, on 453, &c. ; Le Quien, Oriens Christian, vol. ii. col.
this and other charges, in a synod, over which 598. )
Petrus or Peter, bishop of Alexandria, presided, 4. Of MELITENE. [No. 1. ]
determined to separate from the church, and to 5. Medicus. [See below. ]
constitute with his followers a separate community. 6. MONACHUS, the Monk. (See below. ]
Epiphanius, on the other hand, relates that both 7. Of Mopsvestia, an ardent supporter of the
Peter and Meletius being in confinement for the unfortunate Nestorius (NESTORIUS], of Constanti-
faith, differed concerning the treatment to be used nople. He succeeded the celebrated Theodore as
toward those who, after renouncing their Christian bishop of Mopsuestia, in Cilicia (THEODORUS Mop-
profession, became penitent and wished to be re- SUESTENUS), probably in or about A. D. 427. He
stored to the communion of the Church. He states supported John, patriarch of Antioch (JOANNES,
that Peter, who was willing to receive them, was No. 9), in his opposition to the hasty and unjust
opposed by Meletius, who was next to Peter in deposition of Nestorius by Cyril of Alexandria
influence, and had, in fact, the larger number of fol- and his party (CYRILLUS, St. of ALEXANDRIA),
lowers on this question: and the schism which in the third general (Ephesian) council, a. D. 431 :
arose on this account he represents as owing rather and when John was induced to come to terms with
to the former than to the latter. Although the Cyril and to join in condemning Nestorius, Mele-
ecclesiastical historians Socrates and Theodoret tius persisted in supporting the cause of the deposed
have adopted, wholly or partially, the account of patriarch, and refused to hold communion with
Athanasius, the statement of Epiphanius is the either Cyril or John, denouncing such communion
more probable. Had Meletius been convicted, as as diabolical ; and when the latter sent a con-
Athanasius states, it is hardly probable that either ciliatory letter to him, he threw it in the mes-
he would have been able to raise and keep up so senger's face. Being forcibly expelled from his see
forraidable a schism, or that the Council of Nice by the einperor Theodosius II. , at the desire of
He
3
.
ܐ܀ ܀
* JP
the batt
## p. 1020 (#1036) ##########################################
1020
MELETIUS.
MELETUS.
sbich it
makes hi
on earth
He was 1
(Atten.
by Epicra
Sudas is
1
no doubt
and pers:
The c
and Ann
bed, fra
arà proti
grosa
T
Aristopka
Lis excess
materie
John, on account of his pertinacious stipport of mained unpublished till 1836, when Dr. Cramer in.
Nestorius, he induced many persons to secede from serted it in the third volume of his “ Anecdota
the church, and, forming them into separate com Graeca," 8vo. Oxon. It is badly edited, and the text
munities, continued to exercise the priestly office contains numerous errors, some arising from the
among them. This being regarded as an aggra- editor's evident ignorance of the subject-matter
vation of his offence, he was banished by the em- of the treatise, and others apparently from haste and
peror's order, issued at John's instigation, to Melitene carelessless. The beginning of the work was pub-
in Armenia Minor, and placed in the charge of lished by Fred. Ritschel
, Vratislav. 4to. 1837 ;
Acacius, bishop of that city, from whom he endured and there is an essay by L. E. Bachmann, entitled
much hard usage.
His conduct on that occasion is differently related. daughter of Antipater, succeeded his brother Pro-
According to Justin, he was the first to propose in lemy Ceraunus on the throne of Macedonia, after
the council of officers, that either Arrhidaeus or the latter had fallen in battle against the Gauls
Heracles the son of Barsine should at once be (B. C. 280); but was compelled by the Macedonian
chosen king, instead of waiting for the chance of troops to resign the crown, after a reign of only
Roxana bearing a son. Curtius, on the contrary, two months. (Euseb. Arm. pp. 156, 157, Dexippus,
represents him as breaking out into violent in- ap. Syncell. pp. 267, 270. ) His reign is omitted by
vectives against the ambition of Perdiccas, and Justin.
[E. H. B. )
abruptly quitting the assembly, in order to excite MELEA'GER (Menéaypos), son of Eucrates,
the soldiery to a tumult. Diodorus, again, states the celebrated writer and collector of epigrams,
that he was sent by the assembled generals to was a native of Gadara in Palestine, and lived
appease the clamours and discontent of the troops, about B. C. 60. There are 131 of his epigrams in
but instead of doing so he himself joined the the Greek Anthology, written in a good Greek
mutineers. In any case it is certain that Meleager style, though somewhat affected, and distinguished
early assumed the lead of the opposition to Perdic- by sophistic acumen and amatory fancy. (Brunck,
cas and his party ; and placed himself at the head of Anal. vol. i. pp. 1–38 ; Jacobs, Anth. (craec. vol.
the infantry, who had declared themselves (probably i: pp. 1–40, vol. xiii. pp. 639, 698, 915, 916;
at his instigation) in favour of the claims of Arrhi- Fabric
. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv. pp. 416—420. ) Be-
daeus to the vacant throne. Meleager even went 50 sides the various editions of the Greek Anthology,
far as to order the execution of Perdiccas, without there are separate editions of the epigrams of Me
any express authority from his puppet of a king ; leager, for which see Fabricius. An account of his
but this project was disconcerted by the boldness Etépavos, or collection of epigrams, is given under
of the regent: and the greater part of the cavalry, PLANUDES.
[P. S. )
together with almost all the generals, sided with MELES (Méans), an Athenian, who was be-
Perdiccas, and, quitting Babylon, established them- loved by Timagoras, but refused to listen to him,
selves in a separate camp without the walls of the and ordered him to leap from the rock of the acro-
city. Matters thus seemed tending to an open polis. Timagoras, who was only a metoikos at
rupture, but a reconciliation was effected, principally | Athens, did as he was bid; but Meles, repenting
by the intervention of Eumenes, and it was agreed of his cruel command, likewise threw himself from
that the royal authority should be divided between the rock ; and the Athenians from that time are
Arrhidaeus and the expected son of Roxana, and said to have worshipped Anteros, as the avenger
that in the mean time Meleager should be asso- of Timagoras. (Paus. i. 30. $ 1. )
ciated with Perdiccas in the regency.
It was,
Meles is also the god of the river Meles, near
however, evidently impossible that these two should | Smyrna ; and this river-god was believed by some
long continue on really friendly terms, and Me- to have been the father of Homer. (Vit. Script.
leager proved no match for his wily and designing Graec. p. 27, ed. Westermann. )
p.
[L. S. ]
antagonist. Perdiccas contrived by his profound MELES (Méans). 1. Of Colophon, the father
dissimulation, to lull his rival into fancied security, of the poet Polymnestus (Plut. de Mus. p. 1133, a. ).
while he made himself master both of the person 2. Of Athens, the father of the dithyrambic
and the disposition of the imbecile Arrhidaeus, of poet Cinesias, was himself also a dithyrambic poet,
which he immediately took advantage, and hastened and is ranked by Pherecrates as the worst of all
to strike the first blow. The whole army was the citharoedic poets of his day (Schol. ad Aristoph.
assembled under pretence of a general review and Av. 858). Plato also tells us that his performances
lustration, when the king, at the instigation of annoyed the audience (Gorg. p. 502). '. (P. S. ]
Perdiccas, suddenly demanded the surrender and MELESA GORAS. (AMELESAGORAS. )-
punishment of all the leaders in the late disorders. MELESIPPUS (MEAñOITTOS), a Lacedaemo.
The infantry were taken by surprise, and unable to nian, son of Diacritus, was one of the three ambas
offer any resistance ; 300 of the alleged muti- sadors sent to Athens in B. C. 432, just before the
neers were singled out, and instantly executed ; commencement of the Peloponnesian war, with the
and though Meleager himself was not personally final demand of Lacedaemon for the restoration of
attacked, he deemed it necessary to provide for his the independence of all the Greek states. By the
safety by flight, and took refuge in a temple, where advice of Pericles, the Athenians refused compli-
he was quickly pursued and put to death by order ance. In the following year, when Archidamus
of Perdiccas. . (Curt. 1. 21-29; Justin. xii. was on his march to invade Attica, be again sent
>
## p. 1018 (#1034) ##########################################
1018
MELETIUS.
MELETIUS.
Не еn
ing De
Ескер
Toura!
Pat's
pranie
Gaia
Jorian
Toli
Lecce
to bir
on F
agre
day.
Me
by FL
Ensta
Espre
Great
(Secte
9;s
jr. 13
Greg
Epatos
Atin
Epipl
Melesippus to Athens, in the hope of effecting aſ the church, to his native country, Melitene, while
Degotiation; but the Athenians would not even Euzoius was appointed bishop of Antioch in his
admit him to a hearing. (Thuc. i. 139—145, ii. room (A. D. 361). This step led to an immediate
12. )
(E. E. ) and extensive schism : the orthodox party broke
ME'LETE (Menéan), the name of one of the off from the communion of the Arians, and met in
Muses. (Pausanias, ix. 29. § 2 ; compare Mu- the church of the Apostles, in what was called the
SAE. )
[L. S. ] old town of Antioch. There had been a previous
MELETIUS (MEMÉTLOS), literary and ecclesias- secession of the more zealous part of the orthodox
tical.
on occasion of the deposition of Eustathius (A. D.
1. Of Antioch, an eminent Greek ecclesiastic | 331), but the two seceding bodies remained separate,
of the fourth century. He was born at Melitene, the Eustathians objecting that Meletius had been or-
near the right bank of the Euphrates, in the dis- dained by Arians. On the accession of the emperor
trict of Melitene, in Armenia Minor. His parents Julian Meletius returned to Antioch (A. D. 362),
were persons of rank, at least of respectable condi- I and the most earnest endeavours were made to ns
tion (Gregor. Nyssen. Oratio hubit. in funere concile the two sections of the orthodox party : but
Meletii), and he probably inherited from them an though the death of Eustathius seemed to present
estate which he possessed in Armenia (Basil. a fair opportunity for such reconciliation, all the
Epist. 187, editt. vett. , 99, ed. Benedict. ) His efforts made were frustrated by the intemperate
gentleness of disposition, general excellence of cha- zeal of Lucifer of Cugliari (LUCIFER), who ordained
racter, and persuasive eloquence, acquired for him Paulinus bishop of the Eustathians. Meanwhile,
a high reputation : but his first bishopric, that of the Arians appear to have retained possession of
Sebaste, in Armenia, in which he succeeded Eus- most of the churches, the orthodox having one or
tathius (EustathIUS, No. 7), apparently after two assigned for their use, of which, however, on
the latter had been deposed in the council of Meli- the accession of the emperor Valens, they were de
tene (A. n. 357), proved so troublesome, through prived, and Meletius was again (A. D. 365? ) ba-
the contumacy of his people, that he withdrew nished from the city. According to Tillemont, who
from his charge and retired to Beroes, now Aleppo grounds his assertion on two passages of Gregory
• in Syria, of which city, according to one rendering of Nyssen (ibid. ), Meletius was twice banished under
a doubtful expression in Socrates, he became bishop. Valens, or three times in all, which supposes
The East was at this time torn with the Arian contro- a return from his first banishment under that
versy ; but the character of Meletius won the respect prince. Gregory's assertion, however, is not eor-
of both parties, and each appears to have regarded roborated by any of the ecclesiastical bistorians ;
him as belonging to them, a result promoted by and we have no means of determining the dates of
his dwelling, in his discourses, on practical rather Meletius's return and subsequent exile, if they
than polemical subjects. According to Philostor- really took place. Tillemont thinks he was recalled
gius he feigned himself an Arian, and subscribed in A. D. 367 at latest, and places his last banish-
the Confession of the Western bishops, probably ment in A. D. 371. During his exile his party
that of Ariminum ; and, according to Socrates, he were directed by Flavian and Diodorus. (Fla-
subscribed the creed of the Acacians, at Seleuceia VIANUS, No. 1 ; DIODORUS, No. 3. ) He was
in a. D. 359. These concurrent testimonies fix on recalled on the death of Valens A. D. 378, but the
him the charge either of instability or dissimulation. edict of Gratian, wbich recalled all those who were
Still his real tendency to the Hoinoousian doctrine in exile, allowed the Arians (who had chosen Do-
was known to or suspected by many ; and, there- rotheus their bishop in the room of Euzoius, now
fore, when, by the influence of Acacius and the deceased) to retain the churches which they occu-
Arians, he was appointed to the see of Antioch pied ; however they were after a time delivered
(A. D. 360 or 361), all the bishops, clergy, and up to Meletius, who again manifested his anxiety
people of the city and neighbourhood, Arians and to heal the schism between his own party and the
Orthodox, went out to meet him. Even the Jews Eustathians ; but his equitable offers were rejected
and Heathens flocked to see a person who had al- by his more tenacious rival Paulinus. In A. D.
ready attained so great celebrity. For a time, but 381 Meletius was at Constantinople at the second
apparently a very short time, he confined himself general council, and died in that city during its
to practical subjects, avoiding or speaking ambi- session. His body was conveyed with great honour
guously on the doctrines in dispute between the to Antioch, and deposited close to the tomb of the
contending parties, but presently gave more open martyr Babylas. His funeral oration, pronounced
indications of his adherence to the orthodox party. | by Gregory Nyssen, is extant. There is no reason
It was probably to draw out his sentiments more to doubt the truth of the encomiums bestowed on
distinctly that he was desired by the emperor the gentleness of his temper and general kindness
Constantius to give an exposition of the passage, of his disposition: that these very qualities, com-
Prov. viii. 22. [GEORGIUS, No. 29. ] He was bined perhaps with indifference to the points in
preceded in the pulpit by George of Laodiceia and dispute, rendered him more pliant in the earlier
by Acacius of Caesareia, who gave explanations part of his life than was consistent with strict in-
more or less heterodox; and when Meletius in his tegrity, at least with consistency. But from the
turn came to speak, and avowed his adherence to time of his elevation to the see of Antioch, there is
the orthodox doctrine, a scene of great excitement no need to doubt bis consistent adherence to what
ensued, the people applauding, and the Arians he judged to be the truth. In the Western church,
among the clergy, especially the archdeacon, at- indeed, which fraternized with the ultra party of
tempting to stop his mouth. Determined now to the Eustathians, his reputation was lower : he was
get rid of him, the Arians charged him with Sa- regarded as an Arian, and it was long before the
bellianism, and persuaded the emperor to depose imputation was removed. A short piece, ascribed
him and banish him, apparently on a charge either to Athanasius, and published with his works (vol.
of perjury or of having violated the discipline of | . i. p. 30, ed. Benedict. ), but the genuineness of
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## p. 1019 (#1035) ##########################################
MELETIUS.
1019
MELETIUS.
which is very doubtful, charges him with hypocrisy. | (which left him the title of bishop, though it de-
He enjoyed the friendship of Basil and other lead- prived him of the power to ordain) would have
ing men of the orthodox party.
Epiphanius bas dealt so leniently with him. The Council allowed
spoken favourably of him, but Jerome is less fa- those whom he had ordained to retain the priestly
vourable, owing, probably, to his connection with office, on condition of re-ordination, and of their
Paulinus. A part of the first sermon preached by 1 yielding precedence to those whose first ordination
Meletius at Antioch has been preserved by Epi- had been regular. The schism begun in prison
phanius, and is given in the Bibliotheca Patrum of was continued in the mines of Phaenon, in Arabia
Galland, vol. v. A synodical epistle to the emperor | Petraea, to which Meletius and others were ba-
Jovian, given by Socrates (H. E. iii. 25), and So- nished, and after their release. Meletius ordained
zomen (H. E. vi. 4), and reprinted in the Concilia, bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and kept his fol-
vol. i. col. 741, ed. Hardouin, and in the Biblio- lowers a distinct body, under the title of the
theca of Galland, vol. v. , mny perhaps be ascribed Church of the Martyrs. " He even extended his
to him. The Greek Church honours his memory sect into Palestine, where he visited Jerusalem,
on February the 12th, and the Latin Church at Eleutheropolis, and Gaza, and ordained many in
last received him into the calendar on the same those towns to the priesthood. In this state
day.
matters remained till the Nicene Council (A. D.
Meletius was succeeded in the see of Antioch 325), the sentence of which has been already
by Flavian [FLAVIANUS, No. 1], under whom the mentioned. The synodical letter to the Egyptian
Eustathian schism was at length healed, and the clergy, which notities the sentence, gives no in-
suppression of the Arians under Theodosius the formation as to the origin of the schism: it de-
Great restored for a while the unity of the see. scribes, indeed, Meletius as disorderly, hasty, and
(Socrates, H. E. ii. 43, 44, iii. 6, 9, iv. 2, v. 3, 5, headstrong ; characteristics more in harmony with
9 ; Sozomen, H. E. iv. 25, 28, v. 12, 13, vi. 7, the conduct ascribed to him by Epiphanius, than
vii. 3, 7, 8, 10; Theodoret. H. E. ii. 3), iii. 3, 4, with the charges of Athanasius.
iv. 13. 25, v. 3, 8; Philostorg. H. E. v. 1,5; There is no dispute that the theological senti-
Greg. Nyssen. Orat. in Fun. Meletii habita ; Basil. ments of the Meletians were at first what is deemed
Epistolae, d. lvi. Ivii. Iviii. lix. lxiv. cclxxiii. cccxxi. orthodox ; and, according to Epiphanius, Meletius
cccxxv. cccxlix. editt. vett. , or lvii. lxvii. lxviii. lxxxix. was the first to detect the heretical teachings of
cxx. cxxix. ccx. ccxiv. cclviii. cclxvi. edit. Benedict. ; Arius, and to report them to Alexander, bishop of
Epiph. Haeres. lxxiii. 28—35; Hieron. in Chra | Alexandria. Meletius died very shortly after the
nico ; Concilia, vol. i. p. 731, 741, ed. Hardouin ; Council of Nice, for Alexander, who himself only
Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. viii. p. 341, &c. ; Cave, survived the council about five months, lived long
Hist. Litt. ad ann. 360, vol. i. p. 223, ed. Oxford, enough to persecute the followers of Meletius after
1740—43; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. ix. p. 304 ; their leader's death, because, deeming Meletius ill-
Galland. Biblioth. Patrum. Proleg. ad Vol. V. c. created, they would not accept the terms of recon-
ll; Le Quien, Oriens Christian. vol. i. col. 423, ciliation offered by the Council. The schism con-
vol. ii. col. 713, &c. , 781. )
tinued under the leadership of John Arcaph, whom
2. IATROSOPHISTA. [No. 6. ]
Meletius had appointed to succeed him (JOANNES,
3. Of LYCOPOLIS, a schismatical bishop of the No. 16); and the Meletians co-operated with the
third and fourth centuries. There is a remarkable Arians in their hostility to Athanasius [ATHA-
discrepancy in the accounts given of this person. NASIUS] ; an alliance more conducive to the grati-
According to Athanasius, whose contests with the fication of their revenge than to the maintenance
Meletians render his testimony less trustworthy, of their orthodoxy. (Athanas. A pol. contra Arian,
Meletius, who was bishop of Lycopolis in Upper c. 59; Epiphan. Haeres. lxviii. 1-5 ; Socrat. H.
Egypt at the time of the persecution under Diocle- E. i. 6, 9 ; Sozomen, H. E. i. 24, ii. 21 ; Theo-
tian and his successors, yielded to fear and sacri- doret. H. E. i. 9; Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. v. p.
ficed to idols ; and being subsequently deposed, on 453, &c. ; Le Quien, Oriens Christian, vol. ii. col.
this and other charges, in a synod, over which 598. )
Petrus or Peter, bishop of Alexandria, presided, 4. Of MELITENE. [No. 1. ]
determined to separate from the church, and to 5. Medicus. [See below. ]
constitute with his followers a separate community. 6. MONACHUS, the Monk. (See below. ]
Epiphanius, on the other hand, relates that both 7. Of Mopsvestia, an ardent supporter of the
Peter and Meletius being in confinement for the unfortunate Nestorius (NESTORIUS], of Constanti-
faith, differed concerning the treatment to be used nople. He succeeded the celebrated Theodore as
toward those who, after renouncing their Christian bishop of Mopsuestia, in Cilicia (THEODORUS Mop-
profession, became penitent and wished to be re- SUESTENUS), probably in or about A. D. 427. He
stored to the communion of the Church. He states supported John, patriarch of Antioch (JOANNES,
that Peter, who was willing to receive them, was No. 9), in his opposition to the hasty and unjust
opposed by Meletius, who was next to Peter in deposition of Nestorius by Cyril of Alexandria
influence, and had, in fact, the larger number of fol- and his party (CYRILLUS, St. of ALEXANDRIA),
lowers on this question: and the schism which in the third general (Ephesian) council, a. D. 431 :
arose on this account he represents as owing rather and when John was induced to come to terms with
to the former than to the latter. Although the Cyril and to join in condemning Nestorius, Mele-
ecclesiastical historians Socrates and Theodoret tius persisted in supporting the cause of the deposed
have adopted, wholly or partially, the account of patriarch, and refused to hold communion with
Athanasius, the statement of Epiphanius is the either Cyril or John, denouncing such communion
more probable. Had Meletius been convicted, as as diabolical ; and when the latter sent a con-
Athanasius states, it is hardly probable that either ciliatory letter to him, he threw it in the mes-
he would have been able to raise and keep up so senger's face. Being forcibly expelled from his see
forraidable a schism, or that the Council of Nice by the einperor Theodosius II. , at the desire of
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## p. 1020 (#1036) ##########################################
1020
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John, on account of his pertinacious stipport of mained unpublished till 1836, when Dr. Cramer in.
Nestorius, he induced many persons to secede from serted it in the third volume of his “ Anecdota
the church, and, forming them into separate com Graeca," 8vo. Oxon. It is badly edited, and the text
munities, continued to exercise the priestly office contains numerous errors, some arising from the
among them. This being regarded as an aggra- editor's evident ignorance of the subject-matter
vation of his offence, he was banished by the em- of the treatise, and others apparently from haste and
peror's order, issued at John's instigation, to Melitene carelessless. The beginning of the work was pub-
in Armenia Minor, and placed in the charge of lished by Fred. Ritschel
, Vratislav. 4to. 1837 ;
Acacius, bishop of that city, from whom he endured and there is an essay by L. E. Bachmann, entitled
much hard usage.
