Synod of Rathbreasail
Encyclopedia
The Synod of Ráth Breasail (also known as Rathbreasail) (Irish
: Sionad Ráth Bhreasail) took place in Ireland in 1111. It marked the transition of the Irish
church from a monastic
to a diocesan
and parish
-based church. Many Irish present day dioceses trace their boundaries to decisions made at the synod.
The synod was attended by no fewer than fifty bishops, three hundred priests and over three thousand laymen. It established two provinces: Armagh and Cashel. Each province consisted of twelve territorial dioceses. The boundaries of the dioceses were only vaguely defined, however. The synod also made the See
of Waterford a suffragan of the Archbishop of Cashel
having previously been a Danish city subject to Canterbury
.
The papal legate
giving authority to the Synod was Gille, Bishop of Limerick
. Gille is not mentioned in the Irish Annals, possibly because Limerick was then a Hiberno-Norse
city.
It was the second of four great reforming Irish synod
s, the other three were at Cashel (1101), Kells-Mellifont
(1152) and Cashel
again (1172). Rathbreasail is near Mountrath
, County Laois
, a suitably central place for such an important meeting.
The Diocese of Dublin
acknowledged the jurisdiction of Canterbury until 1096, but was not included in the list of dioceses at the synod. It was not incorporated into the system of Irish dioceses until the Synod of Kells in 1152.
(1075–87) and Libertas ecclesiae
(1079).
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
: Sionad Ráth Bhreasail) took place in Ireland in 1111. It marked the transition of the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
church from a monastic
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
to a diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
and parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
-based church. Many Irish present day dioceses trace their boundaries to decisions made at the synod.
The synod was attended by no fewer than fifty bishops, three hundred priests and over three thousand laymen. It established two provinces: Armagh and Cashel. Each province consisted of twelve territorial dioceses. The boundaries of the dioceses were only vaguely defined, however. The synod also made the See
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of Waterford a suffragan of the Archbishop of Cashel
Archbishop of Cashel
The Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
having previously been a Danish city subject to Canterbury
Province of Canterbury
The Province of Canterbury, also called the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England...
.
The papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
giving authority to the Synod was Gille, Bishop of Limerick
Bishop of Limerick
The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of...
. Gille is not mentioned in the Irish Annals, possibly because Limerick was then a Hiberno-Norse
Norse-Gaels
The Norse–Gaels were a people who dominated much of the Irish Sea region, including the Isle of Man, and western Scotland for a part of the Middle Ages; they were of Gaelic and Scandinavian origin and as a whole exhibited a great deal of Gaelic and Norse cultural syncretism...
city.
It was the second of four great reforming Irish synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
s, the other three were at Cashel (1101), Kells-Mellifont
Synod of Kells-Mellifont
The Synod of Kells took place in AD 1152, under the presidency of Cardinal Paparoni, and continued the process begun at the Synod of Rathbreasail of reforming the Irish church...
(1152) and Cashel
Synod of Cashel
The Synod of Cashel of 1172, also known as the Second Synod of Cashel,The first being the Synod held at Cashel in 1101 was assembled at Cashel at the request of Henry II of England shortly after his arrival in Ireland in October 1171...
again (1172). Rathbreasail is near Mountrath
Mountrath
Mountrath is a small town in County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M7 motorway in 2010, the town lies on the R445 midway between Dublin and Limerick, exactly 96.5 km from both cities.In 2006 it had a population of 1,435...
, County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, a suitably central place for such an important meeting.
Dioceses established
The following 24 dioceses were established by the synod:- Armagh
- Cashel
- ArdaghRoman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and ClonmacnoiseThe Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland.-Geographic remit:The diocese is spread over parts of seven counties in the centre of Ireland. It includes almost all of County Longford, half of County Leitrim and parts of counties Westmeath, Offaly, Cavan, Roscommon...
: East ConnachtConnachtConnacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for... - Ardstraw: Cehel Tír Eogain (except Inis EogainInishowenInishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
) - ClogherRoman Catholic Diocese of ClogherThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Clogher was formed in 1111 at the Synod of Rathbreasail as the see for the Kingdom of Uí Chremthainn. The Diocese consists of County Monaghan, much of County Fermanagh with parts of Counties Tyrone, and Donegal...
: Approximating to Kingdom of Uí Chremthainn - Clonard: West Meath †
- ClonfertRoman Catholic Diocese of ClonfertThe Diocese of Clonfert is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...
: Territory of the Uí Maine - Connor: Territory of DalriadaDalriadaDalriada can refer to:* Dál Riata, a Gaelic kingdom in western Scotland and north-east Ireland in the Early Middle Ages* Dalriada School, a co-educational, voluntary grammar school in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland* Dalriada , Hungarian folk metal band...
- Cong was named as one of the five dioceses for Connacht, but no names of bishops have been recorded.
- CorkDiocese of CorkThe Diocese of Cork was established in the seventh century. The diocese of Cork was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail on an ancient bishopric founded by Saint Finbarr in the sixth-century...
- Down: Territory of UlidiaUlidiaUlidia is a genus of ulidiid or picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae.-Species:*Ulidia albidipennis Loew, 1845*Ulidia apicalis Meigen, 1826*Ulidia atrata Loew, 1868*Ulidia erythrophthalma Meigen, 1826...
- Duleek: East Meath - At the Synod of Uisneach, convened by the abbot of ClonmacnoiseClonmacnoiseThe monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
later in 1111, the See of Duleek was suppressed. West Meath assigned to a new Diocese of ClonmacnoiseRoman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and ClonmacnoiseThe Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland.-Geographic remit:The diocese is spread over parts of seven counties in the centre of Ireland. It includes almost all of County Longford, half of County Leitrim and parts of counties Westmeath, Offaly, Cavan, Roscommon...
and East Meath to Clonard. It appears, however, that a number of Bishops of Duleek were appointed before 1160. - ElphinDiocese of ElphinThe Diocese of Elphin was established following the Synod of Rathbreasail in the year 1111. In that year the see for east Connacht was moved from Roscommon. Elphin was the traditional site of a monastic house established by St Patrick c.450, although there are no remains of that date.Following the...
: East ConnachtConnachtConnacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for... - EmlyRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and EmlyThe Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in mid-western Ireland. The diocese is in the secular province of Munster. The Diocese of Cashel was established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail and promoted to the status of a Metropolitan Province in 1152 by the...
- FernsRoman Catholic Diocese of FernsThe Diocese of Ferns is a Roman Catholic diocese in south-eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin. The incumbent Ordinary is Denis Brennan....
- Glendalough
- KildareRoman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and LeighlinThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is a Roman Catholic diocese in eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin...
- Kilkenny (subsequently renamed Ossory): Territory of Osraige
- KillalaRoman Catholic Diocese of KillalaThe Diocese of Killala is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam. The current Bishop is Dr...
: Territory of the Uí FiachrachUí FiachrachThe Uí Fiachrach were a dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the coicead or fifth of Connacht at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descent from Fiachrae, an older half-brother of Niall Noigiallach or Niall of the Nine Hostages... - KillaloeDiocese of KillaloeThe Diocese of Killaloe may refer either to a Roman Catholic or a Church of Ireland diocese, in Ireland.-Roman Catholic diocese:The Diocese of Killaloe is the second largest Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland....
: Territory of Uí Fiachrach AidhneUí Fiachrach AidhneUí Fhiachrach Aidhne was a kingdom located in what is now the south of Co. Galway.-Legendary origins and geography:... - Leighlin: One of five dioceses for Leinster
- LimerickRoman Catholic Diocese of LimerickThe Diocese of Limerick is a Roman Catholic diocese in mid-western Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The diocese is in the secular province of the same name - Munster...
- RaphoeRoman Catholic Diocese of RaphoeThe Diocese of Raphoe is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-western Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The current Bishop of Raphoe is The Most Rev. Dr. Philip Boyce, D.D., O.C.D.. He was enthroned as bishop on 1 October...
: Tír Conaill and Inis Eogain - Ratass: Territories of the Ciarraighe, Corco Duibne and Eóganacht Locha LéinEóganacht Locha LéinEóganacht Locha Léin or Ui Caipre Luachra were a branch of the ruling Eoganachta of Munster. Their territory was in Iarmuman or West Munster. Luachair is the old name of a large district on the borders of Co Cork, Kerry and Limerick...
(moved to Ardfert by 1117) - TuamRoman Catholic Archdiocese of TuamThe Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in western Ireland. According to tradition, the "Diocese of Tuam" was established in the sixth century by St. Jarlath...
: One of five dioceses in Connacht - Diocese of WaterfordRoman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and LismoreThe Diocese of Waterford and Lismore is a Roman Catholic diocese in southern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The diocese is in the secular province of the same name - Munster...
: already in existence, but had been subject to the Archdiocese of Canterbury prior to 1111
The Diocese of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Church of Ireland has a similar role, heading the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. In both cases, the Archbishop is also Primate of Ireland...
acknowledged the jurisdiction of Canterbury until 1096, but was not included in the list of dioceses at the synod. It was not incorporated into the system of Irish dioceses until the Synod of Kells in 1152.
Dictatus papae
The Synod's deliberations were guided by the relatively new powers of the Papacy that were specified in Dictatus papaeDictatus papae
Dictatus papae is a compilation of 27 axiomatic statements of powers arrogated to the Pope that was included in Pope Gregory VII's register under the year 1075. Some historians argue that it was written by Gregory VII himself; others argue that it has been inserted in the register at a later...
(1075–87) and Libertas ecclesiae
Libertas ecclesiae
Libertas ecclesiae is the notion of emancipation from ecclesiastical authority in relation to the temporal power, which guided the movement of Reform begun in the 11th century...
(1079).