Meletius I Pegas of Alexandria

His All-Holiness Meletius I Pegas (Greek: Μελέτιος Πηγάς) was the Patriarch of Alexandria from 1590 to 1601. He vigorously opposed the Union of Brest-Litovsk in correspondence with the Polish king. He also serviced as locum tenens to the throne of the Church of Constantinople.
==Life==
Meletius was born in Candia (Iraklion) on the Venetian controlled island of Crete in 1549. He studied classical philology, philosophy, and medicine in Padua, in Italy, and then later in Venice, before returning to Crete. There he entered a monastic life. In Candia, on Crete he became a monastic superior. Later, he was sent into exile and eventually, after 1575, entered into the service of the Orthodox patriarchal courts at Alexandria and Constantinople. 
In 1590, Meletius was enthroned Patriarch of Alexandria and became involved in maintaining the position and prestige of Orthodoxy in the middle east and eastern Europe. This he did through theological debates and ecclesiastical diplomacy. He participated in a number of councils including those of Constantinople in 1593 and 1597. He vigorously opposed the negotiations by Orthodox with the Roman Catholic Church in the Polish held areas bordering Russia that led to the Union of Brest-Litovsk. In correspondence with King Sigismund III of Poland, he denied the claims of papal supremacy. He also wrote against the Roman formulation of the filioque. 
In 1593, Meletius [[ordination|ordained the promising twenty-one year old Cyril Lucaris as deacon and then as priest. During the years of 1597 and 1598, Meletius was also the locum tenens for the throne of the Patriarch of Constantinople. 
Meletius reposed on September 14, 1601 in Alexandria and was succeeded by his protege Cyril Lucaris who was elected his successor as Cyril III. 
 
==Sources==
* Britannica: Meletios Pegas
* Cyril I Lucaris
*wikipedia:Patriarch_Meletius_I_of_Alexandria
Category: Bishops
Category: Patriarchs of Alexandria