The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Meletius of Antioch
d. 381 · Bishop of Antioch · President of the Council of Constantinople · Armenia → Antioch
The Nicene Age
Who Meletius of Antioch was
Bishop of Antioch whose gentle orthodoxy made him the rallying point of the Nicene cause in the East, though the tangled “Meletian schism” — rival claimants to the Antioch see, and Rome’s and Alexandria’s support for his rival Paulinus — clouded his whole episcopate. Exiled three times by Arian emperors, he ordained the young John Chrysostom deacon and presided over the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople in 381 — dying while it was in session, mourned by Gregory of Nyssa in a funeral oration before the assembled fathers. The bishop whose death interrupted the council that vindicated his faith.
Also listed in the bishops of Antioch.
Common questions
When did Meletius die?
Meletius of Antioch is dated d. 381 in the archive, which places Meletius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Meletius?
Meletius of Antioch is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa and Socrates Scholasticus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Meletius from?
The archive associates Meletius of Antioch with Armenia, Antioch. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Meletius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Meletius of Antioch to 8 other figures, including John Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, Nectarius of Constantinople and Eustathius of Antioch. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Letter 57 (Basil's devotion to the exiled bishop)
c. AD 372Gregory of Nyssa, Funeral Oration on Meletius (preached before the council)
c. AD 381The number of the Apostles has been enlarged for us by this our late Apostle being reckoned among their company. … Most blessed, indeed, is our Father for this his joining the Apostolic band and his departure to Christ. Most pitiable we!Gregory of Nyssa · Funeral Oration on Meletius
Gregory of Nyssa's funeral oration for Meletius of Antioch, preached at Constantinople in AD 381 during the council over which Meletius had presided and at which he died. Greek: Andreas Spira, Gregorii Nysseni Opera 9 (1967). English translation by William Moore, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd series, vol. 5 (1893), public domain.
Ecclesiastical History V.8–9 (Socrates)
c. AD 439Meletius, bishop of Antioch, presided over the synod… but while these things were doing, Meletius died, and Gregory of Nyssa pronounced his funeral oration.Socrates Scholasticus · V.8–9 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- John Chrysostom
- Gregory of Nyssa
- Nectarius of Constantinople
- Eustathius of Antioch
- Lucifer of Cagliari
- Eustathius of Sebaste
- Paulinus of Antioch
- Diodore of Tarsus
Events in this lifetime
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
- AD 378 · Queen Mavia’s revolt, AD 378
- AD 380 · The Edict of Thessalonica, AD 380
- AD 381 · The Council of Constantinople, AD 381
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Meletius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.