Meletius of Lycopolis

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Meletius of Lycopolis (fl. 4th century) was the founder of the sect known after him as the Meletians, or as the Church of the Martyrs, in the district of Thebes in Egypt.

With Peter of Alexandria, he was thrown into prison during the persecution under Diocletian. His importance is due to his refusal to receive, at least until the persecution had ceased, those Christians who during the persecutions had renounced their faith, and then repented. This refusal led to a breach with Peter, and other Egyptian bishops who were willing to grant absolution to those who were willing to do penance for their infidelity. Meletius, after regaining his freedom, held his ground and drew around him many supporters, extending his influence even so far away as Palestine. He ordained twenty-nine bishops and encroached upon Peter's jurisdiction.

The Council of Nicaea in 325 upheld Peter and the bishops who supported him but Meletius was allowed to remain bishop of Lycopolis with only nominal authority. His death followed soon after. His followers, however, sided with the Arians in the controversy with Athanasius and existed as a separate sect till the 5th century.

See Hans Achelis in Herzog-Hauck, Realencyk. xii. (1903) 558, with the authorities there quoted, and works on Church History.

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• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.