St. Meletius was born in Armenia in the 4th century. He became bishop of Sebaste circa 359 and was named a Patriarch of Antioch in 361. He lived during a time of schism, with many believers clinging to Arian or semi-Arian heresy, post Council of Nicea. It is said that Meletius had a sweet disposition and was a great peacemaker—often ambiguous in preaching in his early days as bishop, but never sacrificing truth. Many of his peers were either too harsh in their deliverance of truth and orthodoxy or completely gave way to political pressure to promote Arian ideas. Meletius, ever the ecumenical figure, had a talent for uniting Christ’s Church during his office. Many different saints at the time extolled his holiness and humility, including St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Basil, and even his adversary St. Epiphanius.

Meletius’s piety and peaceful diplomacy did not save him from exile, however. Several times, and under different emperors, including Constans and Julian, he was banished to his native homeland, Armenia, because he began to preach clearly the truth of the Holy Trinity. St. Basil wrote that “Meletius was the first to speak freely in favour of the truth and to fight the good fight in the reign of Constans.” He held multiple conferences of bishops to promote the truth of the Trinity and fight Arianism in the Church. His dedication won him the attribution of peace and theological unity in Syria and Asia Minor. His last act as bishop, before he suddenly passed during the Council of Constantinople in 381, was to elect St. Gregory Nazianzen as bishop of Constantinople. By then, an established proponent of orthodoxy, he spent his last days speaking of his hopes for peace and unity in the Church.

Practical Lessons

1. Speak Truth in Love: Meletius exemplifies the age-old adage, “you’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar,” which is fitting as his name is a derivative of the Greek word for honey (méli). He reminds us that truth without love is, as St. Paul writes, like a “clanging cymbal.”
2. Persist in Faith: In the face of adversity, Meletius persisted in his staunch teaching of Church doctrine. Through multiple exiles and even pushback from other bishops, he never waivered in his faith. We are reminded through his strong example, that as long as we cling to Christ, we can weather the most difficult storms in our lives.
3. Have Hope Amid Divisions: We can look to the life of St. Meletius today for hope amid divisions in our Holy Mother Church, as he persisted in working and praying for unity during a time of great heresy and schism.

Prayer

St. Meletius, great Patriarch of Antioch, pray for us that we may persevere through persecution. Let us not be dismayed by disunity in our Church and have faith, as you did, that as long as we speak truth in love, the everlasting peace of Christ with prevail in the hearts of men. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Eulalia (304), Virgin, Martyr