The Church commemorates Saint Meletius of Antioch, Archbishop of Antioch, Saint Antony II, Patriarch of Constantinople, Holy martyrs Plotinus and Saturninus, and New Martyr Christos the Gardener.
Saint Meletius was born in AD 310 in Melitine in Lesser Armenia. Saint Meletius was a very educated, pious and virtuous Christian. In AD 357, he was ordained Bishop of Sebaste and three years later he was elected Archbishop of Antioch.
His devoutness, morality, and spiritual virtues immediately made him especially beloved in the church community. For this reason, when he arrived in Antioch, all the faithful gathered on the streets to welcome him and receive his blessing. However, Saint Meletius was deposed from his cathedra after thirty days, because the intrigues of Arians persuaded Emperor Constantius to exile him to Armenia. However, God’s righteousness triumphed.
When Emperor Theodosius the Great convened the Second Council of Constantinople in AD 381, Saint Meletius was invited to take part and preside over it.
Unfortunately, he fell asleep soon after the opening of the Council. His funeral was attended by all the Fathers present, as well as many believers, as a token of honor and recognition of Saint Meletius. Saint Gregory the Theologian was selected to preside over the Council, who after pressure resigned from the presidency of the Synod and from the Throne of the See of Constantinople. The Second Council of Constantinople completed its work under the chairmanship of Archbishop Nektarios of Constantinople.
Source: Church of Cyprus