191:
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.”
183:, 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.
299:(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.
99:. 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
167:
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
114:
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
186:
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
674:
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
139:
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
190:
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
637:
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,
187:
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.”
210:
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
603:“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
198:
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.
1103:
215:
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
238:
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
140:
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
202:"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."
1001:
144:. 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
947:
Hauben, Hans (1998). "The Melitian 'Church of the Martyrs': Christian Dissenters in Ancient Egypt". In T. Hillard; R. Kearsley; C. Nixon; A. Nobbs (eds.).
363:
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
63:. 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
91:
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
272:
1113:
20:
354:
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.
277:
846:
861:
823:
928:
880:
835:
723:
Barkman, Heather (2014). "The Church of the Martyrs in Egypt and North Africa: A Comparison of the Melitian and Donatist Schisms".
1108:
106:
When the persecutions flared up again, Peter was killed (311) and Melitius was condemned to the mines. He was released by the
871:
128:
1082:
Van Nuffelen, Peter (2012). "The Melitian Schism: Development, Sources, and Interpretation". In Peter van Nuffelen (ed.).
1083:
633:“Epiphanius goes on to say that the leaders of the Melitians were, after their discomfiture , near the court … and were
289:
778:
1031:
259:
92:
1024:
Nachrichten von der königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen (Philologisch-historische Klasse)
1073:
285:
266:
written towards 600, says of the Melitians that "they engaged in no error, but must pronounce their schism
132:
52:
665:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 251-2
281:
251:
224:
163:
was elected to succeed Alexander I as archbishop of Alexandria. However, seven years later, in 335, "the
965:
656:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 251
647:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 254
612:
Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 261
239:
180:
136:
96:
60:
892:
The Eusebians: The Polemic of Athanasius of Alexandria and the Construction of the 'Arian Controversy'
1064:
322:
72:
342:
317:
243:
216:
164:
1019:
1051:
995:
977:
856:
753:
192:
124:
68:
1068:
986:
924:
908:
876:
866:
831:
819:
799:
Jews and Christians in Egypt: The Jewish Troubles in Alexandria and the Athanasian Controversy
794:
212:
981:
949:
Ancient History in a Modern University, Vol. 2: Early Christianity, Late Antiquity and Beyond
1043:
916:
900:
745:
376:
Historian Janet Timbie says that the date is unknown, only that he died between 325 and 332.
107:
334:
149:
115:
chancery. The name eventually lost its negative connotations and was adopted by the sect.
80:
49:
34:
131:, who came to power in 313, sought to heal the schism in the Egyptian church. In 325 the
1011:
From Byzantine to Islamic Egypt: Religion, Identity and Politics after the Arab Conquest
330:
111:
100:
1097:
1055:
920:
904:
757:
156:
848:
The Early Coptic Papacy: The Egyptian Church and Its Leadership in Late Antiquity
155:
The period of concord lasted three years. Melitius died in 327, having appointed
815:
235:
145:
127:, failed in his short pontificate to resolve the growing crisis. His successor,
56:
27:
749:
33:"Melitian schism" redirects here. For the schism in the church of Antioch, see
1047:
790:
231:
160:
938:
Gwynn, David M. (2018). "Meletius and Meletians". In Oliver Nicholson (ed.).
176:
by accusing the Melitians of lying and conspiring with Arians to unseat him.
75:
were received. The resultant division in the church of Egypt is known as the
59:. It was founded soon after the end of the Great Persecution (313) by Bishop
296:
64:
267:
247:
220:
736:
Barnard, L. W. (1973). "Athanasius and the Meletian Schism in Egypt".
765:
Barnard, L. W. (1975). "Some Notes on the Meletian Schism in Egypt".
255:
1077:. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan Publishers. pp. 1584a–1585a.
1034:(1955). "Meletius of Lycopolis and Episcopal Succession in Egypt".
110:(311), but the persecutions came to a permanent end only with the
808:
The Melitian Schism: Coptic Christianity and the Egyptian Church
427:
425:
423:
421:
419:
417:
223:(d. c. 465) and persisted into the eighth century (after the
19:"Church of the Martyrs" redirects here. For other uses, see
942:. Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. pp. 1000–1001.
119:
Attempts to resolve the schism: Nicaea (325) and Tyre (335)
1088:. Variorum Collected Studies. Ashgate. pp. xi–xxxvi.
148:. There were 28 Melitian bishops in 325, and several had
1104:
Christian denominations established in the 4th century
522:
520:
518:
516:
514:
512:
510:
508:
506:
474:
472:
470:
468:
466:
464:
341:
is common, it correctly describes only the schism of
26:"Melitian" redirects here. For the breed of dog, see
1085:
Studies on the Melitian Schism in Egypt (AD 306–335)
958:
Studies on the Melitian Schism in Egypt (AD 306–335)
575:
573:
571:
493:
491:
489:
487:
234:
have been discovered bearing evidence of a Melitian
860:
725:Journal of the Canadian Society for Coptic Studies
875:. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
431:
956:Hauben, Hans (2012). Peter Van Nuffelen (ed.).
1026:. Weidmannsche Buchhandlung. pp. 164–256.
970:The Westminster Handbook to Patristic Theology
899:Gwynn, David M. (2012). "Meletian Schism". In
830:(3rd rev. ed.). Oxford University Press.
95:, Melitius was imprisoned alongside Patriarch
828:The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
8:
1000:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
982:"Timotheus Constantinopolitanus Presbyter"
315:This spelling comes from the contemporary
179:In the traditional account, encouraged by
270:" to rejoin the church. According to the
193:Hanson continues to explain that evidence
443:
396:
280:, some Melitians were reconciled to the
940:The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity
705:
621:
591:
562:
478:
455:
408:
389:
308:
273:History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria
993:
990:. Vol. 86. Paris. I, cols. 12–69.
960:. Variorum Collected Studies. Ashgate.
907:; Craige B. Champion; Andrew Erskine;
550:
538:
526:
21:Church of the Martyrs (disambiguation)
851:. American University in Cairo Press.
693:
579:
497:
7:
913:The Encyclopedia of Ancient History
1020:"Zur Geschichte des Athanasius, V"
872:The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
250:groupings like the monasteries of
14:
810:(Ph.D. thesis). Miami University.
282:Coptic Patriarchate of Alexandria
921:10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah12149
565:, pp. 194–195 (Appendix 6).
123:Peter's successor as patriarch,
738:Journal of Egyptian Archaeology
288:late in the reign of Patriarch
206:Survival as a monastic movement
79:, to be distinguished from the
972:. Westminster John Knox Press.
1:
1114:Eastern Christian monasticism
1009:Mikhail, Maged S. A. (2014).
951:. Eerdmans. pp. 329–349.
915:. Wiley. pp. 4420–4421.
675:doctrine.” (Hanson, page 255)
432:Cross & Livingstone 2009
264:On the Reception of Heretics
227:) as a small monastic sect.
87:Start of the Schism, 306–311
16:Early Christian denomination
785:. Harvard University Press.
1130:
1036:Harvard Theological Review
1018:Schwartz, Édouard (1905).
894:. Oxford University Press.
862:"Meletian Schism in Egypt"
845:Davis, Stephen J. (2004).
806:Carroll, Scott T. (1989).
750:10.1177/030751337305900121
159:as his successor. In 328,
32:
25:
18:
1048:10.1017/S0017816000025220
333:. It is also attested in
325:, which uses Μελιτιανοί (
284:by the efforts of Bishop
260:Timothy of Constantinople
83:later that same century.
890:Gwynn, David M. (2007).
783:Constantine and Eusebius
696:, cols. 39–40 and n. 34.
337:. Although the spelling
1109:Schisms in Christianity
1074:The Coptic Encyclopedia
170:Apologia contra Arianos
44:, sometimes called the
1063:Timbie, Janet (1991).
966:McGuckin, John Anthony
225:Arab conquest of Egypt
93:Diocletian Persecution
71:: the ease with which
365:First Meletian Schism
181:Eusebius of Nicomedia
97:Peter I of Alexandria
61:Melitius of Lycopolis
46:Church of the Martyrs
684:RPC Hanson, page 262
323:Eusebius of Caesarea
978:Migne, Jacques Paul
857:Gregory, Timothy E.
458:, pp. 94, 170.
446:, pp. 222–223.
345:a generation later.
343:Meletius of Antioch
318:Life of Constantine
217:Cyril of Alexandria
867:Kazhdan, Alexander
824:"Melitian Schisms"
820:Livingstone, E. A.
708:, p. 299 n68.
286:Moses of Letopolis
174:Historia Arianorum
142:Breviarium Melitii
135:under the Emperor
69:province of Africa
1069:Aziz Suryal Atiya
1065:"Melitian Schism"
987:Patrologia Graeca
909:Sabine R. Huebner
767:Studia Patristica
213:Anthony the Great
133:Council of Nicaea
73:lapsed Christians
1121:
1089:
1078:
1059:
1027:
1014:
1005:
999:
991:
973:
961:
952:
943:
934:
901:Roger S. Bagnall
895:
886:
864:
852:
841:
822:, eds. (2009) .
811:
802:
797:, eds. (1972) .
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108:Edict of Serdica
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1032:Telfer, William
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1013:. I. B. Tauris.
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399:, p. 164n.
395:
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353:
349:
314:
310:
305:
278:John the Deacon
246:or loose quasi-
208:
165:Council of Tyre
121:
89:
81:Meletian Schism
77:Melitian Schism
50:early Christian
38:
35:Meletian schism
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1127:
1125:
1117:
1116:
1111:
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1096:
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1091:
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1042:(4): 227–237.
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980:, ed. (1865).
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624:, p. 117.
614:
605:
596:
594:, p. 115.
584:
567:
555:
553:, p. 217.
543:
541:, p. 331.
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112:Edict of Milan
101:excommunicated
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2:
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930:9781444338386
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905:Kai Brodersen
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882:0-19-504652-8
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837:9780192802903
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788:
784:
780:
779:Barnes, T. D.
776:
773:(1): 399–405.
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635:at that point
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444:McGuckin 2004
440:
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397:Schwartz 1905
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295:According to
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219:(d. 444) and
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137:Constantine I
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827:
816:Cross, F. L.
807:
801:. Greenwood.
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782:
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724:
716:Bibliography
706:Mikhail 2014
701:
689:
680:
670:
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629:
622:Carroll 1989
617:
608:
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592:Carroll 1989
587:
563:Carroll 1989
558:
546:
534:
479:Gregory 1991
456:Carroll 1989
451:
439:
411:, p. 1.
409:Carroll 1989
404:
392:
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364:
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316:
311:
294:
292:(died 767).
271:
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229:
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189:
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173:
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157:John Archaph
154:
141:
122:
105:
90:
76:
45:
41:
39:
795:Crum, W. E.
791:Bell, H. I.
744:: 281–289.
731:(1): 41–58.
551:Barnes 1981
539:Hauben 1998
527:Timbie 1991
236:monasticism
146:Upper Egypt
129:Alexander I
28:Maltese dog
1098:Categories
694:Migne 1865
580:Gwynn 2012
498:Gwynn 2018
327:Melitianoi
244:Pachomians
161:Athanasius
48:, were an
1056:162693650
996:cite book
758:192269982
384:Citations
297:Theodoret
290:Michael I
262:, in his
230:Numerous
65:Donatists
42:Melitians
968:(2004).
911:(eds.).
859:(1991).
781:(1981).
339:Meletian
268:anathema
248:eremitic
240:coenobia
221:Shenoute
125:Achillas
1071:(ed.).
869:(ed.).
242:of the
152:names.
67:in the
1054:
927:
879:
834:
756:
335:Syriac
256:Scetis
252:Nitria
232:papyri
150:Coptic
1067:. In
1052:S2CID
865:. In
754:S2CID
638:p250)
331:Greek
329:) in
303:Notes
103:him.
57:Egypt
1002:link
925:ISBN
877:ISBN
832:ISBN
254:and
172:and
53:sect
40:The
1044:doi
917:doi
746:doi
321:by
276:by
55:in
1100::
1050:.
1040:48
1038:.
1022:.
998:}}
994:{{
984:.
923:.
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