Career
The details of his life are not clear as there are conflicting accounts of lieutenant Meletius" rigorous stance on this point stood in contrast to the earlier willingness of bishops to accept back into communion those who seemed to have truly repented (a pattern which was addressed during previous similar controversies, including those who had lapsed during the Decian persecution about 50 years earlier). As Bishop of Alexandria, Peter would have been recognized as the leader of the Egyptian church and thus Meletius"s superior in church hierarchy.
Historian Philip Schaff tells us that prior to Peter"s death in 311 he spoke out against Meletius"s actions and "deposed him as a disturber of the peace of the church".
The supporters that Meletius drew around him included twenty-eight other bishops, at least some of whom he personally ordained, and the objections against him included that he ordained people in regions where he lacked authority. His group went by the name Church of the Martyrs, inherently objecting to the reacceptance by other bishops of people who chose to avoid the risk of martyrdom.
Meletius"s influence extended even so far away as Palestine. lieutenant is believed by some that Meletius ordained Arius (known for the Arian controversy) as a priest.
But scholarship is divided on whether this is the case.
The Council of Nicaea in 325 attempted to create peace with the Meletians. Meletius was allowed to remain bishop of Lycopolis, but was no longer to ordain bishops outside his region. The bishops he had already ordained were accepted under certain restrictions, and had to be reordained.
Meletius"s death followed soon after the council met, and the effort to bring unity proved unsuccessful.
His followers sided with the Arians in their controversy and existed as a separate sect until the fifth century.