John Arkhaph (also spelled Arkaph or Archaph) was the bishop of

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Mem ...

in Egypt in the 320s and 330s. He was a disciple of Bishop Melitios of Lykopolis, whom he succeeded in 327 as leader of the Church of the Martyrs.Scott T. Carroll (1989), ''The Melitian Schism: Coptic Christianity and the Egyptian Church'' (PhD diss., Miami University), p. 115. The origin and meaning of "Arkhaph" are uncertain.

Athanasius Athanasius I of Alexandria ( – 2 May 373), also called Athanasius the Great, Athanasius the Confessor, or, among Coptic Christians, Athanasius the Apostolic, was a Christian theologian and the 20th patriarch of Alexandria (as Athanasius ...

treats it as a Coptic name and calls him "Archaph who is also called John".

Socrates Scholasticus Socrates of Constantinople ( 380 – after 439), also known as Socrates Scholasticus (), was a 5th-century Greek Christian church historian, a contemporary of Sozomen and Theodoret. He is the author of a ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' ("Church Hi ...

transforms it into the Biblical name Achab. Possibly it is formed from ''

arch An arch is a curved vertical structure spanning an open space underneath it. Arches may support the load above them, or they may perform a purely decorative role. As a decorative element, the arch dates back to the 4th millennium BC, but stru ...

'' (supreme) and '' apa'' (father) as an alternate to the title archiereus (high priest), which was used of the

bishop of Alexandria The Patriarch of Alexandria is the archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation "pope" (etymologically "Father", like "Abbot"). The Alexandrian episcopate was revered as one of the three major episc ...

in some Coptic documents.W. Telfer (1955), "Meletius of Lycopolis and Episcopal Succession in Egypt", ''Harvard Theological Review'' 48(4): 227–237. Besides Athanasius and Socrates, the historian

Sozomen Salamanes Hermias Sozomenos (; ; c. 400 – c. 450 AD), also known as Sozomen, was a Roman lawyer and historian of the Christian Church. Family and home Sozoman was born around 400 in Bethelia, a small town near Gaza, into a wealthy Christia ...

is an important source for John's career. John is first mentioned in the ''Breviarium Melitii'', a list of bishops and other clergy of the Church of the Martyrs submitted by Melitios to the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nothing of his earlier life is known and no writings by him survive. He is "a shadowy and controversial figure".David M. Gwynn (2018)
"John Arkaph"
in David G. Hunter, Paul J.J. van Geest and Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte (eds.), ''Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online''. Consulted online on 7 September 2019. Melitios chose John as his successor shortly before his death in 327. The schism in the Egyptian church that had been healed at Nicaea was resumed in 328 at the election of Athanasius as bishop of Alexandria. John was a staunch opponent of Athanasius, although the two reconciled long enough for the Emperor

Constantine I Constantine I (27 February 27222 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337 and the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. He played a Constantine the Great and Christianity, pivotal ro ...

to send John a letter of congratulations for ending the schism. There is a note added beside John's name in Athanasius' copy of the ''Breviarium'': "was ordered by the emperor to be with the bishop". The exact meaning of the note and the identity of the bishop are a matter of academic debate. It may mean that John was ordered to submit to Athanasius in 328, or it may mean that John had been the representative of his church to the Alexandrian church at the time of the Council of Nicaea.Hans Hauben (2000), "John Arkhaph and 'the bishop' (Athan., ''Apol. Sec.'' 71.6): A Reassessment", ''Ancient Society'' 30: 271–275. Ultimately, the rivalry between John and Athanasius resulted in the latter's condemnation at the Council of Tyre in 335. Athanasius then went into exile, while John and his clergy were restored to their positions. Constantine, however, took exception to the council and exiled John and the rest of his clergy. In 337, the emperor died and Athanasius returned.Carroll (1989), p. 144. Nothing more is known of John after the Tyrian settlement fell apart.

References

External Links

Documents Concerning the Melitian Schism
- List of English translations of documents during the Melitian schism including letters written to John Arkhaph from ''Fourth-Century Christianity'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Arkhaph, John 4th-century Egyptian bishops Ancient Christians involved in controversies Date of birth unknown Date of death unknown

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