E02056: John Chrysostom in his homily On *Meletios (bishop of Antioch, S01192), of 386, refers to the saint's popular veneration, which included the naming of children after him, and the multiple production of his images. Written in Greek at Antioch (Syria).

John Chrysostom, On Meletios (CPG 4345, BHG 1244)

Εἰς τὸν ἐν ἁγίοις Πατέρα ἡμῶν Μελέτιον ἀρχιεπίσκοπον Ἀντιοχείας τῆς μεγάλης, καὶ εἰς τὴν σπουδὴν τῶν συνελθόντων.

On our Father among the Saints, Meletios, archbishop of Antioch the Great, and on the enthusiasm of the congregation.

1. It is hard to say who is more blessed: Meletios for the great honours he enjoys after death, or the people of Antioch who demonstrate such an enthusiastic love for their old shepherd. Although five years have passed since his death, their love has not faded.

(…) Οὗτος γὰρ φιλούντων ὁ νόμος καὶ τοιοῦτον τὸ ἔθος, ὡς καὶ ψιλὰ τὰ ὀνόματα περιπτύσσεσθαι τῶν ἐρωμένων, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὰς διαθερμαίνεσθαι τὰς προσηγορίας· ὃ δὴ καὶ ὑμεῖς πεπόνθατε ἐπὶ τοῦ μακαρίου τούτου. Παρὰ γὰρ τὴν ἀρχὴν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν πόλιν εἰσελθόντα δεξάμενοι, τὸ παιδίον ἕκαστος τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς προσηγορίας ἐκαλεῖτε τῆς ἐκείνου, διὰ τῆς προσηγορίας εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τὸν ἅγιον εἰσάγειν νομίζοντες, καὶ πατέρας, καὶ πάππους, καὶ προγόνους παρατρέχουσαι αἱ μητέρες τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ μακαρίου Μελετίου τοῖς τεχθεῖσι παιδίοις ἐπετίθεσαν. Ἐνίκα γὰρ τὴν φύσιν ὁ τῆς εὐλαβείας πόθος, καὶ τὰ τικτόμενα λοιπὸν οὐκ ἀπὸ τῆς κατὰ φύσιν φιλοστοργίας μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς πρὸς τὴν προσηγορίαν ἐκείνην διαθέσεως ποθεινὰ τοῖς φυτευσαμένοις ἦν. Τὸ γὰρ ὄνομα αὐτὸ καὶ συγγενείας κόσμον καὶ οἰκίας ἀσφάλειαν, καὶ τοῖς καλουμένοις σωτηρίαν, καὶ τοῦ πόθου παραμυθίαν εἶναι ἐνόμιζον· καὶ καθάπερ ἐν σκότῳ καθήμενοί τινες μιᾶς λαμπάδος ἁφθείσης πολλοὺς ἀνάψαντες λύχνους εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ἕκαστος εἰσάγει τὴν ἑαυτοῦ· οὕτω δὴ καὶ τῆς προσηγορίας ἐκείνης ὥσπερ φωτὸς εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐμπεσούσης, ἕκαστος ὥσπερ λύχνον ἀνάπτων εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἰσῆγε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τὸ τοῦ μακαρίου τότε ἐκείνου ὄνομα, ὥσπερ τινὰ μυρίων ἀγαθῶν θησαυρὸν διὰ τῆς ἐπωνυμίας ἐπισπώμενος· καὶ ἦν εὐλαβείας διδασκαλία τὸ γιγνόμενον. Συνεχῶς γὰρ ἀναγκαζόμενοι τῆς προσηγορίας ἐκείνης μεμνῆσθαι, καὶ τὸν ἅγιον ἐκεῖνον ἔχειν ἐπὶ τῆς ψυχῆς, παντὸς ἀλόγου πάθους καὶ λογισμοῦ φυγαδευτήριον εἶχον τὸ ὄνομα· καὶ οὕτω πολὺ γέγονε τοῦτο, ὡς πανταχοῦ καὶ ἐν ἀμφόδοις, καὶ ἐν ἀγορᾷ, καὶ ἐν ἀγροῖς, καὶ ἐν ὁδοῖς τούτῳ πάντοθεν περιηχεῖσθαι τῷ ὀνόματι. Οὐ πρὸς τὸ ὄνομα δὲ τοσοῦτον ἐπάθετε μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν τοῦ σώματος τὸν τύπον. Ὅπερ γοῦν ἐν ὀνόμασιν ἐποιήσατε, τοῦτο καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς εἰκόνος ἐπράξατε τῆς ἐκείνου. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐν δακτυλίων σφενδόναις, καὶ ἐν ἐκτυπώμασι, καὶ ἐν φιάλαις, καὶ ἐν θαλάμων τοίχοις, καὶ πανταχοῦ τὴν εἰκόνα τὴν ἁγίαν ἐκείνην διεχάραξαν πολλοὶ, ὡς μὴ μόνον ἀκούειν τῆς ἁγίας προσηγορίας ἐκείνης, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁρᾷν αὐτοῦ πανταχοῦ τοῦ σώματος τὸν τύπον, καὶ διπλῆν τινα τῆς ἀποδημίας ἔχειν παραμυθίαν.

‘(……) For this is the custom of those who love, and such is their habit, to embrace even the bare names of their loved ones, and get heated up even at their simple mention, which is precisely what happened also to you with regard to this blessed man. For you welcomed him from the beginning, when he arrived at the city, and each one of you called their own child after his name, believing that, by this name-giving, they introduced the saint into their homes. Thus, bypassing fathers, grandfathers, and ancestors, mothers gave the name of the blessed Meletios to the children they gave birth to. For, indeed, the fervour of piety prevailed over the bond of nature, and the parents cherished their offspring not only by their natural parental love, but also by their affection for that name. For they regarded this name as a title of honour for their relation, a guarantee for their house, a means of protection for those bearing it, and a source of consolation in their regret. It was like people sitting in the dark, who, once a candle is lit, light several lamps, and each person takes their lamp into their house. It was precisely like this that, when that name burst into the city like a light, each man, as if lighting up a lamp, brought into their house the name of that blessed man, as if obtaining by this name-giving a treasure of a myriad of blessings. And this practice became a means of education in piety. For, since they were compelled to constantly keep that name on their mind, and keep that holy man at their heart, they had this name as a repellent of every irrational emotion and thought. And it became so frequent, that the name echoed everywhere, from all directions, in side-streets, and in the marketplace, and in the fields, and on the roads. And what you did with the names you also did the same with his image: for many people inscribed that hallowed image on ring-heads, on stamps, on plates, on the walls of rooms, and everywhere, so that it was not only possible to hear that holy name, but also to see everywhere the figure of his body, and have a double means of consolation for his absence (......).’

From the very beginning of his episcopate, Meletios faced the hostility of the heretics who stirred the emperor of the time to exile him.

2. During Meletios’ departure from the city, a mob attacks the Praetorian Prefect while driving a chariot and carrying Meletios out of Antioch. The bishop protects the prefect from the stones hurled at him, by covering his head with his cloak, and thus provides an example of love for one’s enemies. Despite Meletios’ absences, the orthodox community is stable and flourishes. During his exile in Armenia, Meletios keeps his Antiochene flock at his heart. He is then allowed to return. Meletios’ exile is a test for the faith of the Antiochenes, which is eventually rewarded, since, after his first exile, they are allowed to enjoy his inspiring presence for a very long period of time. His return from his second exile is a true triumph.

3. When God decides to take him, He summons Meletios to the Council of Constantinople, so that this holy may be known also in Cilicia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Bithynia, and Thrace. Once the bishops of the world receive his example, Meletios is summoned to heaven. His death in Constantinople is in itself a work of divine providence, protecting Antioch from the great distress of witnessing the death of its beloved shepherd. God continues to show His favour to Antioch by the appointment of a worthy successor for Meletios (the current bishop Flavianos). The love of the Antiochenes for Meletios grows constantly, even among the younger generation that has not met him. The author invites the whole city, officials and commoners, women and men, free and slaves, to join him in prayer, invoking Meletios.

Text: PG 50, 515-520.
Summary and translation: Efthymios Rizos.