Melkite

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmɛlkʌɪt/

noun

  • an Orthodox or Uniate Christian belonging to the patriarchate of Antioch, Jerusalem, or Alexandria.
  • historical an Eastern Christian adhering to the Orthodox faith as defined by the councils of Ephesus ( ad 431) and Chalcedon ( ad 451) and as accepted by the Byzantine emperor.

Origin:

early 17th century: via Church Latin from Byzantine Greek Melkhitai, plural representing Syriac malkāyā 'royalists' (i.e. expressing agreement with the Byzantine emperor), from malkā 'king'