The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Merocles
fl. AD 314 (death unrecorded) · Bishop of Milan · Subscriber at Arles · Mediolanum (Milan)
The Nicene Age
Who Merocles was
Bishop of Milan, and one of the Italian bishops Constantine had already used the year before: he sat on the commission under Miltiades at Rome in 313 that first cleared Caecilian, then signed again at Arles when the Donatists refused to accept it. He signed the synodal letter the council sent to Sylvester of Rome, which survives in the appendix to Optatus of Milevis.
Named once, in the subscription of the Council of Arles (314); no other ancient source names him.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Merocles active?
Merocles is dated fl. AD 314 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Merocles in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
What did Merocles write?
Merocles has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Synodal Letter of the Council of Arles to Sylvester of Rome.
Which early sources mention Merocles?
Merocles is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from The Council of Arles. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Merocles from?
The archive associates Merocles with Mediolanum (Milan).
Writings (1)
The Synodal Letter of the Council of Arles to Sylvester of Rome
AD 314Being united by the common tie of charity, and by that unity which is the bond of our mother, the Catholic Church, we have been brought to the City of Arles by the wish of the most pious Emperor, and we salute thee with the reverence which is thy due, most glorious Pope.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The Synodal Letter of the Council of Arles to Pope Sylvester — the subscription list
c. AD 314To the most beloved Pope Silvester: Marinus, Acratius, Natalis, Theodore, Proterius, Vocius, Verus, Probatius, Caecilian, Faustinus, Surgentius, Gregory, Reticius, Ambitausus, Termatius, Merocles, Pardus, Adelfius, Hibernius, Fortunatus, Aristasius, Lampadius, Vitalis, Maternus, Liberius, Gregory, Crescens, Avitianus, Dafnus, Orantalis, Quintasius, Victor, Epictetus, eternal health in the Lord!The Council of Arles · Letter of the Council of Arles to Sylvester · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Merocles.