Meletios of Antioch

Archbishop of Antioch, champion of Orthodoxy.

St. Meletios was Archbishop of Antioch in the fourth century, a gentle and steadfast champion of the Nicene faith. For his defense of the divinity of Christ against the Arians he was driven from his see into exile more than once, yet he never ceased to shepherd his flock in patience and peace.

Restored at last, he presided at the opening of the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 381, and reposed in the Lord while the council was in session, mourned by the whole Church. He is commemorated on February 12.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Meletios of Antioch is commemorated on February 12. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on February 25 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Meletis, Meletios, Meletius

Also commemorated on February 12

• Mary called Marinos

  Holy Woman, Μαρία η μετονομασθείσα Μαρίνος

  Venerable Mary, who lived as the monk Marinos in a monastery of Bithynia.

• Christos the Gardener

  Martyr, Χρήστος ο Κηπουρός

  New Martyr Christos the Gardener of Albania, who suffered in Constantinople.

  Name days: Christos, Chrestos, Chris

• Antonios of Constantinople

  Hierarch, Αντώνιος Κωνσταντινουπόλεως

  St. Antonios Kauleas, Patriarch of Constantinople.

• Alexis of Moscow

  Hierarch, Αλέξιος Μόσχας

  St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, wonderworker of All Russia.

• Meletios of Ypseni

  Venerable, Μελέτιος ο εν Υψενή

  Venerable Meletios of Lardos, founder of the Monastery of Ypseni in Rhodes.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.