Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch

Life

This great and holy man was an extraordinary interpreter and defender of Orthodoxy. His entire life was devoted to the struggle against the Arian heresy, which did not acknowledge the Son of God as God and blasphemed against the Holy Trinity. He was removed thrice from his archiepiscopal throne by heretics and exiled to Armenia. The struggle between the Orthodox and the heretics was waged so bitterly that once, when Saint Meletius was speaking in church to the people about the divine Trinity in unity, his own deacon, a heretic, ran up to the bishop and covered his mouth with his hand. Unable to speak with his tongue, Meletius spoke with signs. Namely, he raised his hand upward, opened first three fingers, and showed the people, then closed his hand and raised one finger. He participated in the Second Ecumenical Council where Emperor Theodosius showed him particular honor. At that council God manifested a miracle through this holy hierarch. Namely, when Meletius was proving to the Arians the dogma of the Holy Trinity, he first raised three fingers, separately, one by one, then closed them together, and at that moment light like lightning appeared before all present from his hand. At that council Saint Meletius confirmed Gregory the Theologian on the throne of Constantinople. Earlier he had ordained Basil the Great to the diaconate and baptized John Chrysostom. After the conclusion of the council Saint Meletius ended his earthly life in Constantinople. His relics were transferred to Antioch.

From the Hymn of Praise

Unity and Trinity, One and Three,Christ - He is God and Man, One and Two.These two mysteries are greatest and most wondrous,In them the key of life and being is hidden.