St. Meletius of Antioch is an important early Christian saint, who became bishop of one of the largest and most ancient congregations of Christianity—the Syrian city of Antioch.

Meletius was born in Armenia in the first half of the fourth century. Meletius was born into a distinguished family, leading him to seek a distinguished ecclesial office in the church. Meletius was appointed the bishop of the Christian city of Sebaste.

During the fourth century, debates over the divinity of Christ raged throughout Eastern and Western Christianity. Antioch was, for a long time, a stronghold of orthodox Christianity, where Christians believed in Christ’s two natures—divine and human—united in the one person of Jesus.

Meletius resisted both the rise of Arianism and the Eastern emperor, Constantius II, who supported the Arian Christians. During these ecclesial bickerings, the important Christian city of Antioch was being pulled between many different bishops. The people of Antioch were divided between these heretical bishops vying for the see. Finally, they appointed Meletius, who was an orthodox Christian, but who focused mostly on the moral Christian life and living a life of Christian charity in imitation of the saints of the Hebrew Scriptures. The divided people of Antioch admired their saintly bishop and adhered to his example.

Meletius became known as a hero among the faithful in Antioch, for uniting the church that had been divided by heresies. The good bishop Meletius anointed one of Antioch’s most famous bishops, John Chrysostom, a deacon. John Chrysostom later praised him in one of his homilies, eulogizing him for his great wisdom and his calm and holy leadership. Meletius died while attending the Second Council of Constantinople in 381.

St. Meletius of Antioch, faithful bishop, and shepherd of a divided people—pray for us!

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Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Meletius is in the public domain. Last accessed January 23, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.