Aprus or Apros ( Ancient Greek : Ἄπρος ), also Apri or Aproi (Ἄπροι), was a town of ancient Thrace and, later, a Roman city established in the Roman province of Europa .
43-489: Stephanus of Byzantium collects a quote of Theopompus that mentions Aprus. Pliny the Elder notes that Aprus is situated in the interior of Thrace, 22 M.P. from Resisto (likely the same as Bisanthe ), 50 Roman miles from Bizya and 180 Roman miles from Philippi . The city was re-founded as Colonia Claudia Aprensis in the mid-1st century AD, probably in connection with the emperor Claudius 's annexation of Thracia , and
86-449: A change of the bishop's place of residence. For example, several of the sees added by this change of policy are in the western and central United States, such as Grass Valley, California , whose diocese was dissolved upon the erection of the Diocese of Sacramento . The change of practice is reflected in the inclusion from then on of such sees in the official lists of titular sees in editions of
129-472: A neighbouring territory or subdivided, according to developing circumstances. An example might be the uniting on November 30, 1987, of two Egyptian vicariates apostolic , Heliopolis of Egypt and Port Said, to become the single Vicariate Apostolic of Alexandria of Egypt–Heliopolis of Egypt–Port Said , governed by Egypt's only Latin Ordinary at present. A different example would be the division, on 6 July 6, 1992, of
172-474: A see may be styled a "titular metropolitan" (highest rank), "titular archbishop" (intermediary rank) or " titular bishop " (lowest rank), which normally goes by the status conferred on the titular see. Titular sees are dioceses that no longer functionally exist, often because the territory was conquered by Muslims or because it is schismatic . The Greek–Turkish population exchange of 1923 also contributed to titular sees. The see of Maximianoupolis along with
215-585: A separate six volume index. Moroni acknowledged the great difficulties in compiling this work, even after he thoroughly examined all the sources available to him. In 1851, the Annuario Pontificio began to have such a list, but it did not purport to be complete. On the contrary, it contained only those that were in general use. Names of dioceses disappeared and were listed again when the titles were actually assigned. Until 1882, these titles were given as in partibus infidelium . According to Corrigan,
258-453: A territorial Abbey, a Vicariate Apostolic, or a Prelature. The ecclesiastic placed in charge of one of these jurisdictions has a corresponding title, such as Superior of a Mission sui iuris , Apostolic Administrator, Ordinary, Prefect Apostolic, territorial Abbot, Vicar Apostolic, or Prelate. The ecclesiastic may be in priestly or episcopal orders. In recent practice an Apostolic Administrator, Vicar Apostolic, or Prelate (in this precise sense)
301-464: Is a vast work, with sometimes hundreds of list entries under each letter of the greek alphabet: Α – Ω . Even as an epitome, the Ethnica is of enormous value for geographical, mythological , and religious information about ancient Greece . Nearly every article in the epitome contains a reference to some ancient writer, as an authority for the name of the place. From the surviving fragments, we see that
344-561: Is missing from the next such document, composed at the start of the 10th century, but reappears in the middle of the same century. In the 15th century it was dropped from the official lists of the dioceses dependent on the Patriarchate of Constantinople. No longer a residential diocese, it has been listed by the Catholic Church as a double titular see , but remains only Latin No later than 1848,
387-529: Is often appointed (and consecrated) a bishop. If that happens he is assigned a titular see, in addition to his status as head of the territorial jurisdiction. the appointment as bishop is less likely in the case of a Superior of a Mission sui iuris , or a Prefect Apostolic, but may happen, especially when a man who is already a bishop governing a particular jurisdiction is appointed cumulatively to govern one of these others. A particular territory may have its canonical status changed more than once, or may be united to
430-592: The Annuario Pontificio . Previously, titular sees were routinely (yet not always) assigned not only to auxiliary bishops, similar pseudo-diocesan offices and pre-diocesan apostolic vicars or (Eastern Catholic) apostolic exarchs (not apostolic prefects ), but also to retired bishops by way of emeritate (sometimes with a 'promotion' from a suffragan see to an archiepiscopal titular see; however sometimes transferred to another during an incumbent emeritus bishop's life) and even to coadjutor bishops . That practice
473-571: The Diocese of Évreux , who was controversial for his positions on religious, political and social matters, refused to retire and become Bishop Emeritus of Évreux, he was transferred to the titular see of Partenia . The crusading William IV, Count of Nevers , dying in the Holy Land in 1168, left the building known as the Hospital of Panthenor in the town of Clamecy in Burgundy , together with some land, to
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#1733084930140516-486: The 19th century to two separately 'restored' titular successor sees: a Latin titular archbishopric of Nazareth and a Maronite ( Antiochian Rite ) titular (Arch)bishopric of Nazareth, both suppressed only in the early 20th century. The granting of titular sees is occasionally practised in the Eastern and other Orthodox churches. The Roman Catholic Church lists as titular sees, former diocese that no longer function, several in
559-583: The 6th century, in honour of Theodosius II , emperor from 401 to 450, or of Theodosius I (347–395). After the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade (1204), the Henry of Flanders , brother of Baldwin I , attacked the city and killed many of the citizens. The Latin Empire made Theodore Branas (called Li Vernas by Geoffroi de Villehardouin ) lord of Aprus. In 1206, Tsar Kaloyan of Bulgaria destroyed
602-664: The Bishops of Bethlehem, in case Bethlehem should fall under Muslim control. After Saladin took Bethlehem in 1187, the Bishop took up residence in 1223 in his property, which remained the seat of titular Bishops of Bethlehem for almost 600 years, until the French Revolution of 1789. The Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Nazareth first had two centuries of Metropolitan Archbishops of Nazareth in Barletta (southern Italy), and gave rise in
645-509: The Catholic population, its lack of permanence, the likelihood of having to divide the jurisdiction in the near future, and so on. In these circumstances the Catholic Church establishes sometimes not a diocese but a canonical jurisdiction of another kind. This may be, for example, a Mission sui iuris , an Apostolic Administration (permanently constituted), an Ordinariate, a Prefecture Apostolic,
688-555: The Christian population of their dioceses dispersed, were killed or abandoned the Catholic faith, they continued to be seen as the bishops of those dioceses, who could give rise, even after long interruption (exile and/or vacancy), to a 'restored' line of apostolic succession on each see. The Ordinary or hierarch of a Catholic titular see may be styled a "Titular Metropolitan" (highest rank), "Titular Archbishop" (intermediary rank) or " titular bishop " (lowest rank), which normally goes by
731-510: The Ghanaian diocese of Accra, to separate from its territory the new diocese of Koforidua . At the same date, the diocese of Accra became a Metropolitan Archdiocese. After a name change, an abandoned name may be 'restored' as a titular see, even though a residential successor see exist(ed). Furthermore, the Catholic Church may create more than one titular see named after a single city, by creating one or more lines of apostolic succession assigned to
774-632: The Latin and/or one or more Eastern Catholic rites, which are not necessarily of the same rank. It was formerly the practice to add the term in partibus infidelium , often shortened to in partibus or i.p.i. , meaning "in the lands of the unbelievers", to the name of the see conferred on titular (non-diocesan) Latin Church bishops. Formerly, when bishops fled from invading Muslims, they were welcomed by other churches, while preserving their titles and their rights to their own dioceses. They were entrusted with
817-580: The administration of vacant sees of other dioceses, or with assisting in such government of a see which already had a residential bishop. In later days it was deemed fitting to preserve the memory of ancient Christian churches which no longer existed; this was done by giving their names to auxiliary bishops or bishops in missionary countries. These bishops did not reside in the sees whose titles they bore, nor could they exercise any power over them, and are not entrusted with their care. They are therefore called titular bishops, as opposed to diocesan bishops, and
860-558: The author of an important geographical dictionary entitled Ethnica ( Ἐθνικά ). Only meagre fragments of the dictionary survive, but the epitome is extant, compiled by one Hermolaus , not otherwise identified. Nothing is known about the life of Stephanus, except that he was a Greek grammarian who was active in Constantinople , and lived after the time of Arcadius and Honorius , and before that of Justinian II . Later writers provide no information about him, but they do note that
903-731: The city, but Branas rebuilt it. In the Battle of Apros of July 1305, the Catalan Company annihilated the Byzantine imperial army under Michael IX Palaiologos . Its location is near the modern Turkish village of Kermeyan . In Armenian the town is known as Garin, In Greek Karenitis and in Arabic as Kalikelah. The Romans named the town Colonia Claudia Aprensis, and the Byzantines called it Apros and latter Theodosiopolis. The former archbishopric
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#1733084930140946-874: The context of improved relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy after the Second Vatican Council , the Holy See, while continuing to appoint bishops to titular sees in North Africa , ceased to make such appointments to sees that were historically part of the Eastern patriarchates of Constantinople , Alexandria , Antioch , and Jerusalem . It began instead to treat as titular sees also those Catholic dioceses in any country no longer used as titles of diocesan bishops because of having been absorbed into other dioceses or having been renamed due to
989-752: The countries in which they were ambassadors . The foundation of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith , in 1622, gave a great impetus to the missionary work of the Church in China and Japan, and elsewhere a great increase in the number of bishops became necessary and those received their titles from the ancient abandoned sees. Only about 1850, was any attempt made to compile a list of such sees. Gaetano Moroni had already, in 1840, began publication of his 103 volume Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica with
1032-447: The diocesan bishops in their labors. After the 14th century the large increase of population in the great centers rendered such assistance particularly necessary. In the 16th century the Holy See inaugurated the policy of consecrating nuncios and other prelates, delegated to represent the Pope in his relations with the different nations, so that they would be equals with the diocesan bishops of
1075-611: The diocese was nominally restored as a Latin Episcopal as Titular bishopric under the names of Theodosiopolis (Latin) / Teodosiopoli (Curiate Italian) / Apri / Apros / Aprus. It was repeatedly renamed : in 1926 as Titular Episcopal See of Theodosiopolis (Latin) / Teodosiopoli d’Europa (Italian) / Apri / Apros / Aprus; in 1929 as Titular Episcopal See of Theodosiopolis (Latin) / Teodosiopoli di Frigia (Italian) and in 1930 as Titular Episcopal See of Theodosiopolis (Latin) / Teodosiopoli d’Europa (Italian) / Apri / Apros / Aprus. In 1931 it
1118-419: The fitting Archiepiscopal (intermediary) rank : 40°55′37″N 27°06′26″E / 40.9269409°N 27.1073556°E / 40.9269409; 27.1073556 Stephanus of Byzantium Stephanus or Stephen of Byzantium ( Latin : Stephanus Byzantinus ; Ancient Greek : Στέφανος Βυζάντιος , Stéphanos Byzántios ; fl. 6th century AD) was a Byzantine grammarian and
1161-704: The latter includes a passage from the comic poet Alexis on the Seven Largest Islands . Another respectable fragment, from the article Δύμη to the end of Δ , exists in a manuscript of the Fonds Coislin , the library formed by Pierre Séguier . The first modern printed edition of the work was published by the Aldine Press in Venice in 1502. The complete standard edition is still that of August Meineke (1849, reprinted at Graz, 1958), and by convention, references to
1204-457: The now fitting Archiepiscopal (intermediary) rank; No later than 1907, it was also and separately restored as the only-ever titular see of the particular Bulgarian Byzantine Catholic Church (Bulgarian Catholics of the Byzantine Rite ) as Titular archbishopric of Theodosiopolis ante Apri (Latin) / Teodosiopoli (Curiate Italian). In 1924 it was suppressed, having had a single incumbent of
1247-399: The number of abandoned sees. The final development of the list of sees, called in partibus infidelium , took shape, at first, from the attempt of the Holy See to keep up the succession of bishops in these dioceses, in the hope of reconquering their territory from the infidel. When all hope of such redemption was given up, these titles were still conferred on those who were chosen to assist
1290-654: The original contained considerable quotations from ancient authors, besides many interesting particulars, topographical, historical, mythological, and others. Stephanus cites Artemidorus , Polybius , Aelius Herodianus , Herodotus , Thucydides , Xenophon , Strabo and other writers. He is the only writer to cite a lost work attributed to Sophaenetus . The chief fragments remaining of the original work are preserved by Constantine Porphyrogennetos in De Administrando Imperio , ch. 23 (the article Ίβηρίαι δύο ) and De thematibus , ii. 10 (an account of Sicily );
1333-684: The places to which they had been appointed. The spread of Islam through Muslim conquests in Asia and Africa was responsible for hundreds of abandoned sees. During the Crusades , the Latins, who established new Christian communities, composed of Europeans and belonging to the Latin Church, procured the erection of new dioceses for their benefit, and these in turn, during the growth of the Ottoman Empire , increased
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1376-528: The practice has become more widespread. Although the normal constitution of the hierarchy has always been built on the idea of local jurisdiction of the bishops, there are indications, in the early history of the Church, of many who did not enjoy what is usually called ordinary jurisdiction. Besides those who were endowed with the episcopal character, in order to assist the local bishops there were those who had been driven from their dioceses by infidels or by heretics , or who for other reasons could not reside in
1419-490: The sees themselves are called titular sees, as opposed to residential sees. The regular appointment of titular bishops is said to date back to the time of the Fifth Lateran Council , in 1514; cardinals alone were authorized to ask for titular bishops to be appointed to assist them in their dioceses. Pope Pius V extended the privilege to all sees in which it had become customary to have auxiliary bishops. Since then
1462-411: The status conferred on the titular see (mostly corresponding to its historical rank), but exceptions ad hoc are currently made on a regular basis, either above or below the titular see's rank, while titular sees have repeatedly been promoted or demoted. There are practical advantages in certain circumstances in not establishing a permanent diocese in a given territory, for reasons of the limited size of
1505-510: The story goes that King George I of Greece (a Lutheran ) complained to Pope Leo XIII that he and his (mostly Eastern Orthodox ) people were injured by this appellation, saying to Leo XIII, "we are not infidels, we are Christians; we are Catholics." Leo XIII, through a Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith decree, in 1882, abolished the phrase in partibus infidelium and ordered that future appointments should be made as "titular bishops". The custom, when Boudinhon wrote his article,
1548-463: The text use Meineke's page numbers. A new completely revised edition in German, edited by B. Wyss, C. Zubler, M. Billerbeck, J.F. Gaertner, was published between 2006 and 2017, with a total of 5 volumes. Titular archbishopric A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such
1591-654: The town that shared its name was destroyed by the Bulgarians under Emperor Kaloyan in 1207; the town and the see were under the control of the Latin Empire , which took Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Parthenia , in north Africa, was abandoned and swallowed by desert sand. During the Muslim conquests of the Middle East and North Africa, some bishops fled to Christian-ruled areas. Even if they did not return and
1634-622: The work was later reduced to an epitome by a certain Hermolaus, who dedicated his epitome to Justinian; whether the first or second emperor of that name is meant is disputed, but it seems probable that Stephanus flourished in Byzantium in the earlier part of the sixth century AD, under Justinian I . Stephanos' work, originally written in Greek , takes the form of an alphabetical dictionary or encyclopedia of geographical toponymns , ethnonymns etc. It
1677-500: Was a double Catholic titular archbishopric - under the name Theodosiopolis ante Apri it was the only Bulgarian Catholic titular see , but has been suppressed as such, yet it remains a Latin titular see as Aprus. In a Notitia Episcopatuum of about 640, the bishopric appears as an autocephalous archdiocese and as the 22nd in order of precedence among 34 sees dependent upon the Patriarchate of Constantinople . Perhaps due to error, it
1720-571: Was intended for retired members of the Roman military. It was situated on the Via Egnatia that ran from the Adriatic coast in the province of Illyricum to Byzantium , the city that was to become Constantinople . In the 4th century, Aprus was the principal city of the region southwest of Heraclea , the capital of the province. The city was called Theodosiopolis ( Greek : Θεοδοσιούπολις) in documents of
1763-495: Was largely replaced for the last categories by the present one of referring to a retired bishop as a bishop emeritus of the see that he held, and to a coadjutor bishop simply as coadjutor bishop of the see to which he has been appointed. This change too is reflected in editions of the Annuario Pontificio of the period, which include information on renunciation by retired and coadjutor bishops of titular sees to which they had been appointed. In 1995, when Jacques Gaillot , Bishop of
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1806-428: Was suppressed, having had the following incumbents, however none of the then fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank, all of the higher (and present) Archiepiscopal (intermediary) rank : In 1933 however, it was restored, renamed and promoted as Titular archbishopric of Aprus (Latin) / Apro (Italian) / Apren(sis) (Latin adjective). It has been vacant for several decades, having had the following incumbents, so far of
1849-475: Was to join to the name of the see that of the district to which it formerly belonged, or else merely to say "titular bishop". The Annuaire Pontifical Catholique published a very complete list of the titular sees and titular bishops. Although it did not claim to be perfect, it contained the names of the sees and the bishops who had held the titles as far back, in some cases, as the 14th century. Titular sees, according to Corrigan in 1920, were conferred on In
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