Meletian1
/məˈliːʃn/(also Melitian) Church History
noun
A member of a schismatic Church founded in Egypt in the early 4th cent. by Melitius, bishop of Lycopolis, who objected to the return to the church of Christians who had temporarily renounced their faith under persecution.
- The Meletians were active as a minor sect until the 8th cent..
adjective
Of or relating to this sect.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Meredith Hanmer (1543–1604), Church of England and Church of Ireland clergyman and historian. From Byzantine Greek Μελητιανός, Μελιτιανός from Μελήτιος, the name of Melitius, bishop of Lycopolis in the Thebaid (d. 326?) + -ανος.
Meletian2
/məˈliːʃn/Church History
noun
A member of a party in the Church of Antioch comprising those Orthodox Christians who continued to accept the authority of St Meletius (consecrated bishop in a.d. 360), despite the deposition and exile which he suffered early in his episcopate.
- The election of a rival created a schism which persisted for over fifty years..
adjective
Of or relating to this party.
Origin
Early 17th century. From the name of St Meletius (Greek Μελήτιος), Bishop of Antioch (d. 381) + -an, perhaps after a formation in Byzantine Greek or post-classical Latin.