ARCAG, GIOVANNI. – Bishop of Memphis and leader of the Meletian party in Egypt (4th century). A singularly turbulent figure, known for his intrigues against St. Athanasius.
Under his leadership, the Meletian party was highly active in their efforts to destroy the Bishop of Alexandria. Among other things, A. Arsenio (v.) of Ipseli to go into hiding, and then spread the rumor that the missing man had been killed by Athanasius for magical purposes, after having his hand cut off. But Athanasius succeeded in discovering the traces of the living man, and the Caesar Dalmatius was ordered not to pursue the judicial inquiry against the accused (334). A., having fallen into disfavor, deplored his conduct and announced to the Emperor Constantine his reconciliation with Athanasius. The following year, however, he renewed his machinations, this time allied with the Arians and their protectors, and at the Synod of Tyre (335) his party resumed its campaign of old slanders. A. and his followers were considered victims of an unjust sentence and thus admitted by the Council to communion with the Church. A., having returned to Alexandria, sought to exploit his success, but with such poor judgment that Constantine was compelled to exile him as a disturber of the peace.