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AFTER Meletius had been ordained bishop, which was not long
before the Arian controversy, he was convicted of certain crimes by
the most holy Peter, bishop of Alexandria, who also received the
crown of martyrdom. After being deposed by Peter he did not acquiesce
in his deposition, but filled the Thebaid and the adjacent part of
Egypt with tumult and disturbance, and rebelled against the primacy of
Alexandria. A letter was written by the council to the Church of
Alexandria stating what had been decreed against his revolutionary
practices. It was as follows.
Synodical Epistle.
"To the Church of Alexandria which, by the grace of God, is great
and holy, and to the beloved brethren in Egypt, Libya, and
Pentapolis, the bishops who have been convened to the great and holy
council of Nicaea, send greeting in the Lord.
"The great and holy council of Nicaea having been convened by the
grace of God, and by the most religious emperor, Constantine, who
summoned us from different provinces and cities, we judge it requisite
that a letter be sent from the whole Holy Synod to inform you also
what questions have been mooted and debated, and what has been decreed
and established.
"In the first place, the impious doctrines of Arius were
investigated before our most religious emperor Constantine; and his
impiety was unanimously anathematized, as well as the blasphemous
language and views which he had propounded, alleging that the Son of
God was out of what was not, that before He was begotten He was
not, that there was a period in which He was not, and that He can,
according to His own free-will, be capable either of virtue or of
vice. The holy council anathematized all these assertions, and even
refused so much as to listen to such impious and foolish opinions, and
such blasphemous expressions. The final decision concerning him you
already know, or will soon hear; but we will not mention it now, lest
we should appear to trample upon a man who has already received the
recompense due to his sins. Such influence has his impiety obtained as
to involve Theonas, bishop of Marmarica, and Secundus, bishop of
Ptolemais, in his ruin, and they have shared his punishment.
"But after Egypt had, by the grace of God, been delivered from
these false and blasphemous opinions, and from persons who dared to
raise discord and division among a hitherto peaceable people, there yet
remained the question of the temerity of Meletius, and of those
ordained by him. We now inform you, beloved brethren, of the decrees
of the council on this subject. It was decided by the holy council,
that Meletius should be treated with clemency, though, strictly
speaking, he was not worthy of even the least concession. He was
permitted to remain in his own city, but was divested of all power,
whether of nomination or of ordination, neither was he to shew himself
in any province or city for these purposes: but only to retain the bare
name of his office. Those who had received ordination at his hands
were to submit to a more religious re-ordination; and were to be
admitted to communion on the terms of retaining their ministry, but of
ranking in every diocese and church below those who had been ordained
before them by Alexander, our much-honoured fellow-minister Thus
they would have no power of choosing or nominating others to the
ministry, according to their pleasure, or indeed of doing anything
with out the consent of the bishops of the Catholic and Apostolic
Church, who are under Alexander. But they who, by the grace of
God, and in answer to your prayers, have been detected in no schism,
and have continued spotless in the Catholic and Apostolic Church,
are to have the power of electing, and of nominating men worthy of the
clerical office, and are permitted to do whatsoever is in accordance
with law and the authority of the Church. If it should happen, that
any of those now holding an office in the Church should die, then let
these recently admitted be advanced to the honours of the deceased,
provided only that they appear worthy, and that the people choose
them, and that the election be confirmed and ratified by the catholic
bishop of Alexandria. The same privilege has been conceded to all the
others. With respect to Meletius, however, an exception has been
made, both on account of his former insubordination, and of the
rashness and impetuosity of his disposition; for if the least authority
were accorded to him, he might abuse it by again exciting confusion.
These are the chief points which relate to Egypt, and to the holy
Church of Alexandria. Whatever other canons were made, or dogmas
decreed, you will hear of them from Alexander, our most-honoured
fellow-minister and brother, who will give you still more accurate
information, because he himself directed, as well as participated in,
every thing that took place.
"We also give you the good news that, according to your prayers, the
celebration of the most holy paschal feast was unanimously rectified,
so that our brethren of the East, who did not previously keep the
festival at the same time as those of Rome, and as yourselves, and,
indeed, all have done from the beginning, will henceforth celebrate it
with you. Rejoice, then, in the success of our undertakings, and in
the general peace and concord, and in the extirpation of every heresy,
and receive with still greater honour and more fervent love,
Alexander, our fellow-minister and your bishop, who imparted joy to
as by his presence, and who, at a very advanced age, has undergone so
much fatigue for the purpose of restoring peace among you. Pray for us
all, that what has been rightly decreed may remain steadfast, through
our Lord Jesus Christ, being done, as we trust, according to the
good pleasure of God and the Father in the Holy Ghost, to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Notwithstanding the endeavours of that divine assembly of bishops to
apply this medicine to the Meletian disease, vestiges of his
infatuation remain even to this day; for there are in some districts
bodies of monks who refuse to follow sound doctrine, and observe
certain vain points of discipline, agreeing with the infatuated views
of the Jews and the Samaritans.
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