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Document Details :

Title: John Arkhaph and 'the Bishop' (Athan., Apol. Sec. 71,6)
Author(s): HAUBEN, H.
Journal: Ancient Society
Volume: 30    Date: 2000   
Pages: 271-275
DOI: 10.2143/AS.30.0.565563

Abstract :
Some years ago I discussed the position held by John Arkhaph in 325/327 as it could be deduced from the so-called Breviarium Melitii. It was the repentent rebel Melitius himself who, in the presence of his clergy and as a sign of reconciliation, handed over the Catalogue to Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria and general leader of the Catholic Church in Egypt. John was the Melitian bishop of Memphis, whom Melitius, sensing his end was near, would soon appoint as his successor at the head of the Melitian Church, thus disrupting the precarious peace process. I argued that Melitius’ conduct, for all its irregularity, was not at all surprising. For already before his formal nomination and his predecessor’s death, the Catalogue evidenced some recognition of John as Melitius’ representative and as the movement’s spokesman to the Alexandrian see, earning him a special position among the Melitian clergy as well as within the Christian community.

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