Feast Day: February 12th
The Life of Saint Meletius: Saint Meletius was the one who ordained the future Hierarch Saint Basil the Great as Deacon. Saint Meletius also Baptized and encouraged another of the greatest luminaries of Orthodoxy, Saint John Chrysostom… In all this Saint Meletius was distinguished by an extraordinary gentleness, and he constantly led his flock by the example of his own virtue and kindly disposition, supposing that the seeds of the True teaching sprout more readily on such soil….
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A Prayer
Kontakion – Tone 6: Fearing your spiritual boldness, the apostate Makedonios fled, and we your servants, celebrating your service with love, flee to you as an intercessor, O Meletius, converser with Angels, and fiery sword of Christ our God, smiting all the godless; and we sing to you, as a lamp which enlightens all.
In the year 380 Saint Meletius had set off on his way to the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, and came to preside over it. Before the start of the Council, Saint Meletius raised his hand displaying three fingers, and then withdrawing two fingers and leaving one extended he blessed the people, proclaiming:
“We understand three hypostases, and we speak about a single nature.”
With this declaration, a fire surrounded the Saint like lightning. During the Council Saint Meletius fell asleep in the Lord.
