MELETIUS OF LYCOPOLIS (4th

century)  , founder of the sect known after him as the " Meletians," or as the " Church of the Martyrs," in the district of Thebes in Egypt . With Peter, archbishop of Alexandria, he was thrown into prison during the persecution under Diocletian . His importance is due to his refusal to receive, at least until the persecution had ceased, those Christians who during the persecutions had renounced their faith, and then repented . This refusal led to a breach with Peter, and' other Egyptian bishops who were willing to grant absolution to those who were willing to do penance for their infidelity . Meletius, after regaining his freedom, held his ground and drew around him many supporters, extending his influence even so far away as Palestine . He ordained 29 bishops and encroached upon Peter's jurisdiction . The Council of Nicaea in 325 upheld the bishops, but Meletius was allowed to remain bishop of Lycopolis though with merely nominal authority . His death followed soon after . His followers, however, took part with the Arians in the controversy with Athanasius and existed as a separate sect till the 5th century . See Achelis in Herzog-Hauck, Realencyk. xii . (1903) 558, with the authorities there quoted, and works on Church History .