and for he never communicated at any time with the Meletian schismatics, whose villainy and apostasy he knew, nor did he dally with the Manichaeans or any other heretics out of a partisan spirit, except perhaps occasionally for the sake of admonition." A And the biographer says a little further on: "When he was giving his final instructions to his disciples, he commanded them not to associate with the Meletian schismatics: 'For you know,' he said, 'their villainy and profane heresy.' Likewise, not to communicate with the Arians." And again, a little later: "Remember," he says, "what you have heard from my admonitions; and let there be no communion between you and the Meletian schismatics, nor at all with the Arian heretics; for you know how even I avoided such company." From Saint Anthony, therefore, acknowledge that you schismatics are outside the Church, and that you ought not to be received by us unless you are touched by sincere repentance and become children of the Church through conversion, as the sacred canons also decree. Also note well that Anthony called the Meletians—being schismatics—heretics, saying: "For you know their villainy and profane heresy." B Thus, too, the Apostle designates schisms by the name of heresy in the Epistle to the Corinthians, etc.
NICEPHORUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE, ON THOSE WHO SAY THAT THE HOLY OIL SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED EVEN AFTER DEATH IN THE CASE OF THE DECEASED
I do not know what stupidity and folly some priests in many places fall into, as I have learned from those who know. For they say that after a person has died, they perform the holy oil service over many [of these defunct persons], and [they]