A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1:018 IMELETIUS. MELETIUS.
Melesippus to Athens, in the hope of effecting a the church, to his native country, Melitene, while
negotiation; but the Athenians would not even Euzoius was appointed bishop* of Antioch in his
admit him to a hearing. (Thuc. i. 139-145, ii. room (A. D. 361). This step led to an immediate
12.) [E. E.] and extensive schism: the orthodox party broke
ME'LETE (Me?7&i1), the name of one of the off from the communion of the Arians, and Inet in
Muses. (Pausanias, ix. 29. ~ 2; compare Mu- the church of the Apostles, in what was called the
sAE.) [L. S.] old town of Antioch. There had been a previous
MELE'TIUS (MEANz&os), literary and ecclesias- secession of the more zealous part of the orthodox
tical. on occasion of the deposition of Eustathius (A. D.
1. Of ANTIOCH, an eminent Greek ecclesiastic 331 ),butthetwo seceding bodies remained separate,
of the fourth.century. He was born at Melitene, the Eustathians objecting that Meletius had been ornear the right bank of the Euphrates, in the dis- dained by Arians. On the accession of the emperor
trict of Melitene, in Armenia Minor. His parents Julian Meletius returned to Antioch (A. D. 362),
were persons of rank, at least of respectable condi- and the most earnest endeavours were made to retion (Gregor. Nyssen. Oratio habit. in funere concile the two sections of the orthodox party: but
Meletii), and he probably inherited from them an though the death of Eustathius seemed to present
estate which he possessed in Armenia. (Basil. a fair opportunity for such reconciliation, all the.
Epist. 187, editt. vett., 99, ed. Benedict.) His efforts made, were frustrated by the intemperate
gentleness of disposition, general excellence of cha- zeal of Lucifer of Cagliari [LUCIFER], who ordained
racter, and persuasive eloquence, acquired for him Paulinus bishop of the Eustathians. Meanwhile,
a high reputation: but his first bishopric, that of the Arians appear to have retained possession of
Sebaste, in Armenia, in which he succeeded Eus- most of the churches, the orthodox having one or
tathius [EUSTATHIUS, No. 7], apparently after two assigned for their use, of which, however, on
the latter had been deposed in the council of Meli- the accession of the emperor Valens, they were detene (A. D. 357), proved so troublesome, through prived, and Meletius was again (A. D. 365?) bathe contumacy of his people, that he withdrew nished from the city. According to Tillemont, who
from his charge and retired to Beroea, now Aleppo grounds his assertion on two passages of Gregory
in Syria, of which city,according to one rendering of Nyssen (ibid.), Meletius was twice banished under
a doubtful expression in Socrates, he became bishop. Valens, or three times in all, which supposes
The Eastwas atthis time torn with theArian contro- a return from his first banishment under that
versy; but the character of Meletius won the respect prince. Gregory's assertion, however, is not corof both parties, and each appears to have regarded roborated by any of the ecclesiastical historians;
him as belonging to them, a result promoted by and we have no means of determining the dates of
his dwelling, in his discourses, on practical rather Meletius's return and subsequent exile, if they
than polemical subjects. According to Philostor- really took place. Tillemont thinks he was recalled
gius he feigned himself an Arian, and subscribed in A. D. 367 at latest, and places his last banishthe Confession of the Western bishops, probably ment in A. D. 371. During his exile his party
that of Ariminum; and, according to Socrates, he were directed by Flavian and Diodorus. [FLAsubscribed the creed of the Acacians, at Seleuceia VIANUS, No. 1; DIODORUS, No. 3.] He was
in A. D. 359. These concurrent testimonies fix on recalled on the death of Valens A. D. 378, but the
him the charge either of instability or dissimulation. edict of Gratian, which recalled all those who were
Still his real tendency to the Homoousian doctrine in exile, allowed the Arians (who had chosen Dowas known to or suspected by many; and, there- rotheus their bishop in the room of Euzoius, now
fore, when, by the influence of Acacius and the deceased) to retain the churches which they occuArians, he was appointed to the see of Antioch pied; however they were after a time delivered
(A. D. 360 or 361), all the bishops, clergy, and up to Meletius, who again manifested his anxiety
people of the city and neighbourhood, Arians and to heal the schism between his own party and the
Orthodox, went out to meet him. Even the Jews Eustathians; but his equitable offers were rejected
and Heathens flocked to see a person who had al- by his more tenacious rival Paulinus. In A. D.
ready attained so great celebrity. For a time, but 381 Meletius was at Constantinople at the second
apparently a very short time, he confined himself general council, and died in that city during its
to practical subjects, avoiding or speaking ambi- session. His body was conveyed with great honour
guously on the doctrines in dispute between the to Antioch, and deposited close to the tomb of the
contending parties, but presently gave more open martyr Babylas. His funeral oration, pronounced
indications of his adherence to the orthodox party. by Gregory Nyssen, is extant. There is no reason
It was probably to draw out his sentiments more to doubt the truth of the encomiums bestowed on
distinctly that he was desired by the emperor the gentleness of his temper and general kindness
Constantius to give an exposition of the passage, of his disposition: that these very qualities, comProv. viii. 22. [GEORGIUS, No. 29.] He was bined perhaps with indifference to the points in
preceded in the pulpit by George of Laodiceia and dispute, rendered him more pliant in the earlier
by Acacius of Caesareia, who gave explanations part of his life than was consistent with strict inmore or less heterodox; and when Meletius in his tegrity, at least with consistency. But from the
turn came to speak, and avowed his adherence to time of his elevation to the see of Antioch, there is
the orthodox doctrine, a scene of great excitement no need to doubt his consistent adherence to what
ensued, the people applauding, and the Arians he judged to be the truth. In the Western church,
among the clergy, especially the archdeacon, at- indeed, which fraternized with the ultra party of
tempting to -stop his mouth. Determined now to the Eustathians, his reputation was lower: he was
get rid of him, the Arians charged him with Sa- regarded as an Arian, and it was long before the
bellianism, and persuaded the emperor to depose imputation was removed. A short piece, ascribed
him and banish him, apparently on a charge either to Athanasius, and published with his works (vol.
of perjury or of having violated the discipline of ii. p.. 30, ed. Benedict.), but the genuineness of