Titulus
Encyclopedia
A titular church, or , is one of a set number of Early Christian churches (collectively known as "the ") built round the edges of the city of Rome
, which were ascribed to patrons, whose names often identified them: "they received the name tituli, from the name of the founder or proprietor who held the property in custody for the Church". The meaning of "" in Latin is "title".
The most ancient text which alludes to a of this kind is the fourth-century defense of Athanasius against the Arian
s. By the end of the fifth century, the Liber Pontificalis
recognized 25 . Three more were added in the twelfth century, and many more churches have received the status in modern times.
Each church has an honorary chief authority who in recent centuries has always been a cardinal, known as the church's "titular
". Such holders were initially by tradition native-born Romans (of high social standing), and originally apparently came from the family which had founded the church. The first church in Rome to have a non-Italian titular was Santi Quattro Coronati
: Dietrich of Trier
was appointed titular in 975 by Pope Benedict VII
. That basilica
was originally , drawing its name from its foundress, who doubtless owned the extensive suburban Roman villa
whose foundations remain under the church and whose audience hall became the ecclesiastical basilica.
Today, each member of the College of Cardinals
in the order of cardinal-priest is appointed to a titular church; in 2011 there are 175 cardinals, the great majority cardinal-priests, and several new titular churches have been created in recent decades. The Cardinalate developed from the senior clergy in and around the Diocese of Rome (the seven bishops of suburban towns, the fourteen deacons of the diocese, and the priests of what are now the parishes of the city of Rome). As the college was internationalized, each cardinal was given a , making him an honorary member of the Roman clergy. Today, the cardinal-priests have a loose patronal relationship with their titular churches (their names and coats of arms are inscribed on plaques in the churches, and many raise funds for their church's maintenance and restoration), but they no longer participate in the actual management of the parish. Likewise, the cardinal-bishops are given honorary title to one of the suburbicarian dioceses, and the cardinal-deacons, today many more than fourteen, are given a similar relationship to churches as their deaconries.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, which were ascribed to patrons, whose names often identified them: "they received the name tituli, from the name of the founder or proprietor who held the property in custody for the Church". The meaning of "" in Latin is "title".
The most ancient text which alludes to a of this kind is the fourth-century defense of Athanasius against the Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
s. By the end of the fifth century, the Liber Pontificalis
Liber Pontificalis
The Liber Pontificalis is a book of biographies of popes from Saint Peter until the 15th century. The original publication of the Liber Pontificalis stopped with Pope Adrian II or Pope Stephen V , but it was later supplemented in a different style until Pope Eugene IV and then Pope Pius II...
recognized 25 . Three more were added in the twelfth century, and many more churches have received the status in modern times.
Each church has an honorary chief authority who in recent centuries has always been a cardinal, known as the church's "titular
Titular (Catholicism)
In Roman Catholicism, a titular can be:*the cardinal who holds a titulus, one of the main churches of Rome. Such holders were initially by tradition native-born Romans . The first church in Rome to have a non-Italian titular was Santi Quattro Coronati: Dietrich of Trier was appointed titular in...
". Such holders were initially by tradition native-born Romans (of high social standing), and originally apparently came from the family which had founded the church. The first church in Rome to have a non-Italian titular was Santi Quattro Coronati
Santi Quattro Coronati
Santi Quattro Coronati is an ancient basilica in Rome, Italy. The church dates back to the 4th century, and is devoted to four anonymous saints and martyrs. The complex of the basilica with its two courtyards, the fortified Cardinal Palace with the St...
: Dietrich of Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
was appointed titular in 975 by Pope Benedict VII
Pope Benedict VII
Pope Benedict VII, born in Rome, the son of David or Deodatus , and previously Bishop of Sutri, died July 10, 983; belonged to the noble family of the Counts of Tusculum. He was elected by the Roman clergy and people under the influence of Sicco, imperial envoy of Emperor Otto II...
. That basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
was originally , drawing its name from its foundress, who doubtless owned the extensive suburban Roman villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
whose foundations remain under the church and whose audience hall became the ecclesiastical basilica.
Today, each member of the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
in the order of cardinal-priest is appointed to a titular church; in 2011 there are 175 cardinals, the great majority cardinal-priests, and several new titular churches have been created in recent decades. The Cardinalate developed from the senior clergy in and around the Diocese of Rome (the seven bishops of suburban towns, the fourteen deacons of the diocese, and the priests of what are now the parishes of the city of Rome). As the college was internationalized, each cardinal was given a , making him an honorary member of the Roman clergy. Today, the cardinal-priests have a loose patronal relationship with their titular churches (their names and coats of arms are inscribed on plaques in the churches, and many raise funds for their church's maintenance and restoration), but they no longer participate in the actual management of the parish. Likewise, the cardinal-bishops are given honorary title to one of the suburbicarian dioceses, and the cardinal-deacons, today many more than fourteen, are given a similar relationship to churches as their deaconries.
See also
- List of titular churches in Rome, a list of present titular churches and their holders