St Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch (+381)

Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch, at first governed the flock of Sebaste (c. 357), and then the Emperor Constantius summoned him to Antioch to fight the Arians, and he was consecrated Bishop of Antioch.

Saint Meletius fought ardently against the Arians, and because of this, through the heretics’ machinations, he was driven from his see three times: the Arians surrounded Constantius and brought him under their influence. The hierarch of Antioch was distinguished by wonderful meekness, and tried to equip his spiritual children with virtue and good morals, for he held that in such soil the seeds of true teaching would easily take root.

Saint Meletius ordained Saint Basil the Great deacon; he also baptised Saint John Chrysostom, the great lamp of Orthodoxy, who grew spiritually before his eyes.

After Constantius, Julian the Apostate ascended the throne, and the blessed Meletius was exiled again. After the Emperor Jovian returned his see to him in 363, the holy father wrote “An Exposition of the Faith”, under whose influence many Arians were converted to Orthodoxy.

In 381, in the time of the Emperor Theodosius the Great (379–395), the Second Ecumenical Council was held in Constantinople. At first it was presided over by Meletius of Antioch. The venerable father died during the council. Saint Gregory of Nyssa paid him honour with a eulogy.

The chief shepherd’s precious body was carried from Constantinople to Antioch.