MELITIAN SCHISM, begun when MELITIUS (or Meletius), bishop of
Lycopolis (modern Asyut) in Upper Egypt, objected to the terms
set by PETER I of Alexandria for the readmission of lapsed
Christians. Melitius began to ordain supporters of his stricter
policy, and they constituted the core of the movement.
Persecution continued and Melitius was exiled. Upon his return
from exile (after A.D. 311), he began to organize a schismatic
church. ACHILLAS and then ALEXANDER I, successors of Peter as
bishop of Alexandria, apparently failed to reach agreement with
the Melitian party. A serious attempt to heal the breach was
made at the First Council of NICAEA (325). It was decided that
clergy ordained by Melitius could retain their status; Melitian
bishops, if properly elected, could succeed Catholic bishops
when the sees became vacant; and Melitius would retain his
title. These measures of reconciliation were not sufficient,
perhaps because ATHANASIUS I, who succeeded Alexander in 328,
did not approve of them. From this poi