Our Church celebrates today the memory of 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 310 AD in Melitine in Lesser Armenia. Saint Meletius was a very educated, pious and virtuous Christian. In 357 AD 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 Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 381 AD, Saint Meletius was invited to take part in it and even 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.
Source: Church of Cyprus