202:
Epiphanius as the product of sheer partisanship and not worthy of credence, as, for instance, Gwatkin does, and many a church historian before and after him who was willing to take
Athanasius' protestations of his innocence at their face value.” “But, accidentally or providentially, we have available to us contemporary evidence which we cannot possibly dismiss as invention or exaggeration or propaganda, to decide this point.”
194:, the Melitians went into schism and elected a rival patriarch named Theonas with the support of the Arians. But Hanson argues that the Eusebians (the so-called Arians) only made a pact with the Melitians AFTER the Melitians had already but unsuccessfully appealed to the emperor for protection from Athanasius.
310:(d. c. 460), the Melitians developed unique forms of worship that included hand clapping and music. It has been argued that the movement was dominated by Copts (native Egyptian speakers). Coptic papyri, the writings of the Pachomians and mentions in the writings of Shenoute lend some weight to this view.
110:. Both of them were released during a lull in the persecutions, and Peter laid down terms for the readmission of "lapsed" Christians, i.e., those who had abjured the faith under persecution. Melitius found his terms too lax and during the dispute that followed he ordained some of his supporters. Peter
178:
condemned
Athanasius on a number of charges, deposed him from being archbishop of Alexandria, excommunicated him, and forbade him to return to his former see." Conflicting accounts exist describing the conflict between Athanasius and the Melitians. Athanasius responded in his famous anti-Arian tracts
125:
in 313. When
Melitius returned to Egypt, he founded what he called the Church of the Martyrs with clergy of his own ordination. The name "Melitians" was at first used only by the sect's opponents, who sought thereby to contrast them (as heretics) with true Christians. It was also used by the imperial
197:
Athanasius claimed that 'Arians' drummed up false charges to neutralize him as their theological opponent. However, Hanson says, “it seems clear also that
Athanasius' first efforts at gangsterism in his diocese had nothing to do with difference of opinion on the subject of the Arian Controversy, but
685:
The alliance between the
Eusebians and Melitians “gave Athanasius an opportunity of clouding the issue by ascribing all protest against his outrageous conduct to bias towards Arianism, an opportunity of which he strove earnestly to take advantage. But … Athanasius' offence had nothing to do with
150:
attempted to incorporate the
Melitians into the now legal church. The council agreed to grant Melitian priests "full clerical privileges" if they were willing to forswear schism and "acknowledge the authority" of the patriarch of Alexandria. It was permitted for Melitian clergy to be elected as
201:
In several letters, the
Melitians accused Athanasius of beating their bishops, even of murdering one, and of desecrating Melitian liturgical vessels. “Was this more than wild hearsay? Had they any genuine grievances? We might dismiss the accusations against Athanasius retailed by Sozomenus and
648:
taken in hand by
Eusebius of Nicomedia who promised that he would obtain for them an audience with the Emperor if they would receive and champion Arius, and, on their agreeing, the fusion of the causes of Arius and of Melitius took place.” (Hanson,
198:
were directed against the
Melitians. He had not agreed with the arrangement made about the Melitians at Nicaea. Once he was in the saddle, he determined to suppress them with a strong hand, and was not at all scrupulous about the methods he used.”
221:
The names of the leaders of the sect following John
Archaph (who is not mentioned after 335) are not known. Athanasius continued to refer to them as an ongoing threat in his writings of the 350s and 360s. He claims in his biography of
614:“Athanasius was indeed elected, but not by an immediate and unanimous acclamation and not without suspicion of sharp practice.” Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 249
209:
It is unclear if or to what extent the Melitians' Christology had been influenced by or approximated to Arianism in this period. However, Hanson says that the conflict with the Melitians had nothing to do with doctrine.
226:
that the Melitians claimed the hermit saint as one of their own. As a schismatic sect, the Melitians declined in importance by 400, but they did not disappear. They are mentioned in the writings of
249:
flourishing in the Egyptian desert in the fourth century. It is clear that Melitian monks lived in communities, but is not certain if these were tightly structured arrangements like the
151:
bishops and Melitius himself was to remain a bishop with no fixed see. He was not restored to Lycopolis. Melitius submitted to the council a list of his bishops and clergy known as the
1114:
213:"John Arcaph was thought by Constantine to have overplayed his hand at Tyre, perhaps in reviving the exploded affair of Arsenius. He was banished in consequence."
155:. The list shows a Melitian presence along the whole length of Egypt and there is little evidence for the theory that the centre of Melitian strength was in
958:
Hauben, Hans (1998). "The Melitian 'Church of the Martyrs': Christian Dissenters in Ancient Egypt". In T. Hillard; R. Kearsley; C. Nixon; A. Nobbs (eds.).
374:
In sources that use the same spelling of Melitian/Meletian for both the schism in Egypt and the one in Antioch, the Egyptian schism may be called the
74:. It survived as a small group into the eighth century. The point on which they broke with the larger church was the same as that of the contemporary
102:
Melitius advocated the open practice of Christianity in the face of persecution and urged Christians not to go into hiding. In 305/306, during the
1012:
365:
The name "Church of the Martyrs" was chosen by Melitius himself, but his was not the only rigorist sect to use this name in the early church.
857:
872:
834:
734:
Barkman, Heather (2014). "The Church of the Martyrs in Egypt and North Africa: A Comparison of the Melitian and Donatist Schisms".
283:
1124:
31:
117:
When the persecutions flared up again, Peter was killed (311) and Melitius was condemned to the mines. He was released by the
288:
1093:
Van Nuffelen, Peter (2012). "The Melitian Schism: Development, Sources, and Interpretation". In Peter van Nuffelen (ed.).
1094:
644:“Epiphanius goes on to say that the leaders of the Melitians were, after their discomfiture , near the court … and were
939:
891:
846:
1119:
882:
139:
1035:
Nachrichten von der königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen (Philologisch-historische Klasse)
277:
written towards 600, says of the Melitians that "they engaged in no error, but must pronounce their schism
300:
676:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 251-2
789:
174:
was elected to succeed Alexander I as archbishop of Alexandria. However, seven years later, in 335, "the
667:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 251
658:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 254
623:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 261
903:
The Eusebians: The Polemic of Athanasius of Alexandria and the Construction of the 'Arian Controversy'
1075:
1042:
270:
103:
17:
1030:
1084:
296:
203:
143:
63:
292:
262:
235:
810:
Jews and Christians in Egypt: The Jewish Troubles in Alexandria and the Athanasian Controversy
992:
976:
960:
Ancient History in a Modern University, Vol. 2: Early Christianity, Late Antiquity and Beyond
250:
191:
147:
107:
71:
387:
Historian Janet Timbie says that the date is unknown, only that he died between 325 and 332.
333:
83:
126:
chancery. The name eventually lost its negative connotations and was adopted by the sect.
8:
353:
328:
254:
227:
175:
142:, who came to power in 313, sought to heal the schism in the Egyptian church. In 325 the
1022:
From Byzantine to Islamic Egypt: Religion, Identity and Politics after the Arab Conquest
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1006:
988:
867:
764:
135:
79:
1079:
1066:
997:
935:
931:
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887:
877:
842:
830:
805:
768:
223:
1054:
927:
911:
756:
118:
859:
The Early Coptic Papacy: The Egyptian Church and Its Leadership in Late Antiquity
345:
166:
The period of concord lasted three years. Melitius died in 327, having appointed
160:
91:
60:
45:
138:, failed in his short pontificate to resolve the growing crisis. His successor,
760:
341:
122:
111:
44:"Melitian schism" redirects here. For the schism in the church of Antioch, see
1058:
129:
1108:
949:
Gwynn, David M. (2018). "Meletius and Meletians". In Oliver Nicholson (ed.).
915:
187:
by accusing the Melitians of lying and conspiring with Arians to unseat him.
86:
were received. The resultant division in the church of Egypt is known as the
70:. It was founded soon after the end of the Great Persecution (313) by Bishop
167:
826:
246:
156:
67:
38:
801:
567:
242:
171:
747:
Barnard, L. W. (1973). "Athanasius and the Meletian Schism in Egypt".
698:
776:
Barnard, L. W. (1975). "Some Notes on the Meletian Schism in Egypt".
307:
75:
1088:. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan Publishers. pp. 1584a–1585a.
1045:(1955). "Meletius of Lycopolis and Episcopal Succession in Egypt".
278:
258:
231:
121:(311), but the persecutions came to a permanent end only with the
819:
The Melitian Schism: Coptic Christianity and the Egyptian Church
266:
438:
436:
434:
432:
430:
428:
234:(d. c. 465) and persisted into the eighth century (after the
30:"Church of the Martyrs" redirects here. For other uses, see
953:. Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. pp. 1000–1001.
425:
130:
Attempts to resolve the schism: Nicaea (325) and Tyre (335)
710:
448:
1099:. Variorum Collected Studies. Ashgate. pp. xi–xxxvi.
460:
159:. There were 28 Melitian bishops in 325, and several had
401:
1115:
Christian denominations established in the 4th century
626:
596:
555:
543:
533:
531:
529:
527:
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523:
521:
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483:
481:
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352:
is common, it correctly describes only the schism of
37:"Melitian" redirects here. For the breed of dog, see
1096:
Studies on the Melitian Schism in Egypt (AD 306–335)
969:
Studies on the Melitian Schism in Egypt (AD 306–335)
586:
584:
582:
504:
502:
500:
498:
245:
have been discovered bearing evidence of a Melitian
413:
871:
736:Journal of the Canadian Society for Coptic Studies
514:
472:
216:
579:
495:
1106:
886:. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
825:
442:
967:Hauben, Hans (2012). Peter Van Nuffelen (ed.).
97:
1037:. Weidmannsche Buchhandlung. pp. 164–256.
981:The Westminster Handbook to Patristic Theology
910:Gwynn, David M. (2012). "Meletian Schism". In
841:(3rd rev. ed.). Oxford University Press.
106:, Melitius was imprisoned alongside Patriarch
839:The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
1092:
1011:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
993:"Timotheus Constantinopolitanus Presbyter"
326:This spelling comes from the contemporary
190:In the traditional account, encouraged by
281:" to rejoin the church. According to the
204:Hanson continues to explain that evidence
1028:
975:
800:
454:
407:
291:, some Melitians were reconciled to the
1019:
951:The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity
866:
816:
775:
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716:
632:
602:
573:
489:
466:
419:
284:History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria
14:
1107:
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1001:. Vol. 86. Paris. I, cols. 12–69.
971:. Variorum Collected Studies. Ashgate.
966:
957:
918:; Craige B. Champion; Andrew Erskine;
788:
561:
549:
537:
32:Church of the Martyrs (disambiguation)
987:
948:
909:
900:
862:. American University in Cairo Press.
855:
704:
590:
508:
924:The Encyclopedia of Ancient History
24:
1031:"Zur Geschichte des Athanasius, V"
883:The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
261:groupings like the monasteries of
25:
1136:
821:(Ph.D. thesis). Miami University.
293:Coptic Patriarchate of Alexandria
932:10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah12149
576:, pp. 194–195 (Appendix 6).
134:Peter's successor as patriarch,
749:Journal of Egyptian Archaeology
726:
689:
679:
670:
661:
652:
638:
617:
608:
381:
299:late in the reign of Patriarch
217:Survival as a monastic movement
90:, to be distinguished from the
983:. Westminster John Knox Press.
368:
359:
320:
13:
1:
1125:Eastern Christian monasticism
1020:Mikhail, Maged S. A. (2014).
962:. Eerdmans. pp. 329–349.
926:. Wiley. pp. 4420–4421.
686:doctrine.” (Hanson, page 255)
443:Cross & Livingstone 2009
394:
275:On the Reception of Heretics
238:) as a small monastic sect.
98:Start of the Schism, 306–311
27:Early Christian denomination
7:
796:. Harvard University Press.
10:
1141:
1047:Harvard Theological Review
1029:Schwartz, Édouard (1905).
905:. Oxford University Press.
873:"Meletian Schism in Egypt"
856:Davis, Stephen J. (2004).
817:Carroll, Scott T. (1989).
761:10.1177/030751337305900121
170:as his successor. In 328,
43:
36:
29:
1059:10.1017/S0017816000025220
344:. It is also attested in
336:, which uses Μελιτιανοί (
295:by the efforts of Bishop
271:Timothy of Constantinople
94:later that same century.
901:Gwynn, David M. (2007).
794:Constantine and Eusebius
707:, cols. 39–40 and n. 34.
348:. Although the spelling
313:
1120:Schisms in Christianity
1085:The Coptic Encyclopedia
181:Apologia contra Arianos
55:, sometimes called the
1074:Timbie, Janet (1991).
977:McGuckin, John Anthony
236:Arab conquest of Egypt
104:Diocletian Persecution
82:: the ease with which
376:First Meletian Schism
192:Eusebius of Nicomedia
108:Peter I of Alexandria
72:Melitius of Lycopolis
57:Church of the Martyrs
695:RPC Hanson, page 262
334:Eusebius of Caesarea
989:Migne, Jacques Paul
868:Gregory, Timothy E.
469:, pp. 94, 170.
457:, pp. 222–223.
356:a generation later.
354:Meletius of Antioch
329:Life of Constantine
228:Cyril of Alexandria
878:Kazhdan, Alexander
835:"Melitian Schisms"
831:Livingstone, E. A.
719:, p. 299 n68.
297:Moses of Letopolis
185:Historia Arianorum
153:Breviarium Melitii
146:under the Emperor
80:province of Africa
1080:Aziz Suryal Atiya
1076:"Melitian Schism"
998:Patrologia Graeca
920:Sabine R. Huebner
778:Studia Patristica
224:Anthony the Great
144:Council of Nicaea
84:lapsed Christians
16:(Redirected from
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1016:
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1002:
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912:Roger S. Bagnall
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833:, eds. (2009) .
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808:, eds. (1972) .
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1024:. I. B. Tauris.
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410:, p. 164n.
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289:John the Deacon
257:or loose quasi-
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176:Council of Tyre
132:
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92:Meletian Schism
88:Melitian Schism
61:early Christian
49:
46:Meletian schism
42:
35:
28:
23:
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12:
11:
5:
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1053:(4): 227–237.
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991:, ed. (1865).
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635:, p. 117.
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605:, p. 115.
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123:Edict of Milan
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916:Kai Brodersen
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893:0-19-504652-8
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791:
790:Barnes, T. D.
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784:(1): 399–405.
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646:at that point
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455:McGuckin 2004
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306:According to
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230:(d. 444) and
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827:Cross, F. L.
818:
812:. Greenwood.
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727:Bibliography
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712:
700:
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645:
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633:Carroll 1989
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603:Carroll 1989
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574:Carroll 1989
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557:
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490:Gregory 1991
467:Carroll 1989
462:
450:
422:, p. 1.
420:Carroll 1989
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403:
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361:
349:
337:
327:
322:
305:
303:(died 767).
282:
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189:
184:
180:
168:John Archaph
165:
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802:Bell, H. I.
755:: 281–289.
742:(1): 41–58.
562:Barnes 1981
550:Hauben 1998
538:Timbie 1991
247:monasticism
157:Upper Egypt
140:Alexander I
39:Maltese dog
1109:Categories
705:Migne 1865
591:Gwynn 2012
509:Gwynn 2018
338:Melitianoi
255:Pachomians
172:Athanasius
59:, were an
1067:162693650
1007:cite book
769:192269982
395:Citations
308:Theodoret
301:Michael I
273:, in his
241:Numerous
76:Donatists
53:Melitians
979:(2004).
922:(eds.).
870:(1991).
792:(1981).
350:Meletian
279:anathema
259:eremitic
251:coenobia
232:Shenoute
136:Achillas
18:Melitian
1082:(ed.).
880:(ed.).
253:of the
163:names.
78:in the
1065:
938:
890:
845:
767:
346:Syriac
267:Scetis
263:Nitria
243:papyri
161:Coptic
1078:. In
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876:. In
765:S2CID
649:p250)
342:Greek
340:) in
314:Notes
114:him.
68:Egypt
1013:link
936:ISBN
888:ISBN
843:ISBN
265:and
183:and
64:sect
51:The
1055:doi
928:doi
757:doi
332:by
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