Context: The 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini/Common era) was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. In the West, the early part of the century was shaped by Constantine the Great, who became the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Gaining sole reign of the empire, he is also noted for re-establishing a single imperial capital, choosing the site of ancient Byzantium in 330 (over the current capitals, which had effectively been changed by Diocletian's reforms to Milan in the West, and Nicomedeia in the East) to build the city soon called Nova Roma (New Rome); it was later renamed Constantinople in his honor., Meletius ( died after 325 ) was bishop of Lycopolis in Egypt . He is known mainly as the founder and namesake of the Meletians ( c. 305 ) , one of several schismatic sects in early church history which were concerned about the ease with which lapsed Christians reentered the Church . ( See also Donatism . ) The details of his life are not clear as there are conflicting accounts of it . According to one version he was imprisoned for his Christianity during the persecution under Diocletian along with Peter of Alexandria ( another source has Peter fleeing the scene ; a third has Meletius himself avoiding prison ) . Apparently , as early as during the persecution itself , Meletius began to refuse to receive in communion those Christians who had renounced their faith during the persecution and later repented of that choice . 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 . It 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 ., Donatism ("Donatismós") was a religious movement that separated from the proto-catholics in the 4th century, Subject: meletius of lycopolis, Relation: date_of_death, Options: (A) 301 (B) 400
Output: 400