Archbishopric of Justiniana Prima
Encyclopedia
Archbishopric of Justiniana Prima was an Eastern Christian archbishopric established in 535 AD by Emperor Justinian I
, in his home-town of Justiniana Prima
(today in Leskovac
, southern Serbia
).
The establishment is mentioned in Justinian's own Novel XI from 535, when he promotes the Metropolitan
to an Archbishop, independent from the Archbishop of Thessalonica. The establishment is seen as part of the feud between Justinian and the Archbishop of Eastern Illyricum, who was a papal vicar.
Its last mention is in 602, amid the Slav raids on the Balkans. The Archbishopric of Ochrid was seen as a successor of the old Archbishopric. The bishop John Komnenos, nephew of emperor Alexios I Komnenos
, resurrected the title of Archbishop of Justiniana Prima in 1143 for his own use.
The first Archbishop received the jurisdiction of following provinces (According to Novella 11):
But by 545, in the Novella 131, Macedonia secunda is missing.
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
, in his home-town of Justiniana Prima
Justiniana Prima
Justiniana Prima is an archaeological site near today's Lebane in southern Serbia, It was a Byzantine city that served as the seat of an Archbishopric that had jurisdiction of the Central Balkans...
(today in Leskovac
Leskovac
Leskovac is a city and municipality in southern Serbia. It is the administrative center of the Jablanica District of Serbia...
, southern Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
).
The establishment is mentioned in Justinian's own Novel XI from 535, when he promotes the Metropolitan
Metropolitan
Metropolitan may refer to:* A metropolis* A metropolitan area* A metropole, "mother country", or central part of a colonizing state* Metropolitan bishop or archbishop, leader of an ecclesiastical "mother see"...
to an Archbishop, independent from the Archbishop of Thessalonica. The establishment is seen as part of the feud between Justinian and the Archbishop of Eastern Illyricum, who was a papal vicar.
Its last mention is in 602, amid the Slav raids on the Balkans. The Archbishopric of Ochrid was seen as a successor of the old Archbishopric. The bishop John Komnenos, nephew of emperor Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
, resurrected the title of Archbishop of Justiniana Prima in 1143 for his own use.
Administration
It's seat was at Justiniana Prima.The first Archbishop received the jurisdiction of following provinces (According to Novella 11):
- Dacia mediterraneaDacia MediterraneaDacia Mediterranea is a part of the former Dacia Aureliana divided by Constantine the Great.Serdica is the province capital....
- Dacia ripensisDacia RipensisDacia Ripensis was the name of a Roman province first established by Aurelian circa 283 AD, south of the Danube River, after he withdrew from Dacia Traiana.-History:...
- Moesia secunda
- Dardania
- PraevalitanaPraevalitanaPraevalitana was an ancient Roman province. It included parts of present-day Albania, Montenegro and Serbia.-History:...
- Macedonia secunda
- Part of Pannonia secundaPannonia SecundaThe Pannonia Secunda was one of the provinces of the Roman Empire. It was formed in the year 296, during the reign of emperor Diocletian. The capital of the province was Sirmium...
(Diocese of DaciaDiocese of DaciaThe Diocese of Dacia was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, in the area of modern Serbia and western Bulgaria. It was subordinate to the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum...
)
But by 545, in the Novella 131, Macedonia secunda is missing.
Heads
- Catelianus (Catellian), Metropolitan becoming first Archbishop in 535 AD
- Johannes, fl. 595
Sources
- (ref name OCC)The challenge of our past: studies in Orthodox Canon law and Church history
- Byzantinoslavica
- (ref name DMMS)http://www.ni.rs/byzantium/doc/zbornik3/PDFIII/Carolin.pdf Dacia Mediterranea and Macedonia Secunda in the 6th century
- Florin Curta, The making of the slavs