Abstract
A restauração da diocese (1112/14) e a constituição de um poder episcopal no Porto, a partir do século XII, não podiam deixar de influir na organização da rede paroquial diocesana. Dependendo da definição de “paróquia” que adotemos, esta influência poderá ser considerada como um estímulo à melhor articulação de uma realidade pré-existente ou antes um impulso criador de uma realidade nova. Ainda que se concretize localmente, a paróquia só cobra pleno sentido quando integrada numa rede mais ampla, que se define pela dependência hierárquica de cada uma das células que a compõem face às instituições centrais da diocese; e que só se estrutura verdadeiramente no momento em que tais instituições ultrapassam um conjunto de interesses patrimoniais em igrejas particulares e passam a exercer algum tipo de jurisdição sobre todas as igrejas da diocese. Este texto propõe uma reflexão sobre a forma como este processo se desenrolou no caso da diocese do Porto, procurando precisar o papel da autoridade episcopal. Partindo do período anterior à restauração diocesana (séculos X e XI), que conhecemos apenas através da documentação conservada por instituições monásticas, a análise estende-se até meados do século XIV, quando a rede paroquial estava já estabelecida e a própria Sé compilou um vasto dossiê relativo às igrejas do seu padroado, como uma parte autónoma do cartulário diocesano.
The official restoration of the bishopric of Porto (1112/14) and the emergence of an Episcopal power from the twelfth century onwards forcibly influenced the organization of the parochial network in the diocese. According to the definition of ‘parish’ that one is willing to adopt, such influence may be regarded as an impulse to a better articulation of a pre-existing reality, or rather as the driving-force behind a new reality. Despite its local nature, the parish cannot be fully understood unless it is seen as being part of a wider network that brings each of its components under the hierarchical control of central diocesan institutions; a network which was not fully in place until such institutions reached beyond their proprietary interests in specific churches and started exerting some kind of jurisdiction over all churches in each diocese. This paper looks at how this process unfolded in the case of Porto, paying special attention to the bishops’ role. The analysis spans a long period, from the two centuries prior to the bishopric’s restoration, which can only be assessed through charter material preserved by monastic institutions, to the mid-fourteenth century, when the parochial network was already in place and the see of Porto compiled an extensive dossier apropos of the churches under its patronage, included as a distinctive section of the diocesan cartulary.
The official restoration of the bishopric of Porto (1112/14) and the emergence of an Episcopal power from the twelfth century onwards forcibly influenced the organization of the parochial network in the diocese. According to the definition of ‘parish’ that one is willing to adopt, such influence may be regarded as an impulse to a better articulation of a pre-existing reality, or rather as the driving-force behind a new reality. Despite its local nature, the parish cannot be fully understood unless it is seen as being part of a wider network that brings each of its components under the hierarchical control of central diocesan institutions; a network which was not fully in place until such institutions reached beyond their proprietary interests in specific churches and started exerting some kind of jurisdiction over all churches in each diocese. This paper looks at how this process unfolded in the case of Porto, paying special attention to the bishops’ role. The analysis spans a long period, from the two centuries prior to the bishopric’s restoration, which can only be assessed through charter material preserved by monastic institutions, to the mid-fourteenth century, when the parochial network was already in place and the see of Porto compiled an extensive dossier apropos of the churches under its patronage, included as a distinctive section of the diocesan cartulary.
Original language | Portuguese |
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Title of host publication | Um poder entre poderes |
Subtitle of host publication | nos 900 anos da restauração da Diocese do Porto e da construção do Cabido Portucalense |
Editors | Luís Carlos Amaral |
Place of Publication | Porto |
Publisher | Centro de Estudos de História Religiosa da Universidade Católica Portuguesa |
Pages | 161-196 |
Number of pages | 36 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-972-8361-72-3 |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- História Eclesiástica
- Dioceses
- Paróquias
- Bispos
- Porto
- Idade Média Central