The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Meletius of Lycopolis
d. c. AD 327 · Bishop of Lycopolis · Author of the Meletian schism · Lycopolis, Egypt
The Nicene Age
Who Meletius of Lycopolis was
The rigorist bishop who, during the Great Persecution, usurped ordinations across Egypt while Peter of Alexandria was in hiding, condemning the archbishop's mercy to the lapsed — the 'church of the martyrs' he founded shadowed Alexandria for a century and furnished Arius's first allies. Nicaea dealt with him by name.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When did Meletius die?
Meletius of Lycopolis is dated d. c. AD 327 in the archive, which places Meletius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Meletius?
Meletius of Lycopolis is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The Council of Nicaea, Athanasius of Alexandria and Epiphanius of Salamis. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Meletius from?
The archive associates Meletius of Lycopolis with Lycopolis, Egypt. 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 Lycopolis to 4 other figures, including Peter of Alexandria, Arius, Alexander of Alexandria and Arsenius of Hypsele. 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.
Canons & synodal letter of Nicaea, via the church historians
c. AD 325Concerning Meletius and those ordained by him: it pleased the council that he remain in his own city, retaining the name of bishop, but with no authority to ordain — dealt with more gently than he deserved.The Council of Nicaea · source text
Apology against the Arians 59 (the schism's origin as Athanasius tells it)
c. AD 350Meletius, who had been convicted of many crimes, was deposed by Peter, the bishop and martyr.Athanasius of Alexandria · Apology against the Arians 59 · source text
Panarion 68 (the Meletian dossier)
c. AD 375Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- 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
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.