Diocese of Cervia

The diocese of Cervia was a Roman Catholic diocese in Emilia-Romagna.Diocese of Cervia - Diocese info, catholic-hierarchy.org. Accessed 27 February 2024. The diocese was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ravenna. In 1947, it merged with the archdiocese of Ravenna to form the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.

History Cervia is a city in the province of Ravenna, Italy, on the ancient Via Flaminia 26.0 km (16.2 mi) south-southeast of Ravenna, in a marshy district near the Adriatic Sea. The town and the diocese were originally called Ficocle (or FIcoclia). In the middle of the 4th century the name was changed to Cervia, though the bishops regularly continued to use the old name.Cappelletti II, p. 557. The diocese was a suffragan of Ravenna, according to a document of Pope Gregory I (590–604) now regarded as spurious. It was actually directly subject to the papacy.Kehr V, p. 114: "Ficoclensis episcopatus, quamquam in Gregorii I privilegio spurio JE. 1883a (v. supra p. 32 n. 62) inter Ravennatis archiepiscopi suffraganeos enumeratur, priscis tamen temporibus apostolicae sedi immediate paruisse videtur." Pope Agapitus II, in October 948, made Cervia a suffragan of Ravenna.Kehr V, p. 50, no. 156. That suffragan status was confirmed by Pope Calixtus II on 7 January 1121, in the bull "Etsi Universae".Antonio Tarlazzi (ed.), Appendice ai Monumenti Ravennati dei secoli di mezzo, , Vol. 1 (Ravenna: Angeletti, 1872), pp. 40-42: "concedimus Episcopatus Emilie provincie, idest Placentie, Parme, Regii, Mutine et Bononie, Ferrarie, Adrie, Comaclii, Imole, Faventia, Forolivii, Foripompilii, Bobii, Cesene, Ficocle."

The first known Bishop of Cervia was Gerontius. According to his legend,Daniel Papenbroch, Acta Sanctorum Maii Tomus secundus (Antwerp 1738), pp. 461-464. he was returning with Viticanus, Bishop of Cagli, from the Roman council held in 501 to treat accusations made against Pope Symmachus, when he was assaulted and killed by bandits. The legend says "heretics", perhaps Goths, or more probably Heruli, of the army of Odoacer. His remains are preserved at Cagli. He is venerated as a martyr, and is commemorated in the liturgical calendar on May 9.

In 708, the city of Cagli was destroyed by a fire. It was slowly rebuilt.Cappelletti II, p. 559.

According to Bonizo of Sutri, a bishop of Cervia participated in the enthronement of the Antipope Clement III (Wibert, Archbishop of Ravenna) in the Lateran Basilica in Rome on 28 June 1083: "a Mutinensie episcopo et a Bononiensi episcopo et a Cerviensis."Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Libelli de Lite Imperatorum et Pontificum Vol. 1 (Hannover: Hahn 1891), p. 614: "et cum non haberet episcopos cardinales, sacerdotes sancte Romane ecclesie, nec levitas nec comprovinciales episcopos, ... a Mutinensie episcopo et a Bononiensi episcopo et a Cerviensis in sede beati Petri intronizatus est." Philippus Jaffe, Regesta pontificum Romanorum, editio altera, Tomus I (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p. 650. The manuscript reading, however, is Cueniensi. No other author names a bishop of Cervia. Gebhard of Salzburg names only two bishops;MGH p. 614 n.: "nullus eum consecrare praesumpsit praeter Mutinensem et Aretinum exepiscopos." Schwartz, p. 167. likewise, Bernoldus of Konstanz.I.M. Watterich, Pontificum Romanorum... Vitae vol. I (Leipzig: G. Engelmann 1862), p. 455: "non per Ostiensem et Albanensem et Portuensem episcopos, qui hoc privilegium habent, ut Papam consecrent, sed per Mutinensem et Aritiensem exepiscopos, utpote iam multis annis depositos et anathematizatos."

During the episcopate of Bishop Rusticus (1219), in 1224 Cervia was placed under an interdict for its maltreatment of a certain Gerardus, an envoy of the Archbishop of Ravenna. They also abused a procurator of bishop Egidio of Forlimpopoli, who had been sent to announce the interdict.Cappelletti II, pp. 561-562.

Other bishops worth mention were: Bishop Joannes (c. 858–881), who was sent on a diplomatic mission by Pope Nicholas I to the court of King Lothair II of Lotharingia;Kehr V, p. 113: "Adnotamus etiam Iohannem Ficoclensem episcopum a Nicolao I una cum Khadoaldo Portuensi episcopo in Galliam missum ad cognoscendam Lotharii regis causam (JE. 2698. 2726)." the Venetian Pietro Barbo (1440), later Pope Paul II; Alfonso Visconti (1591–1601), who had been nuncio to the emperor (1589–1591) and to Transylvania (1595–1596);Die Nuntiatur am Kaiserhofe III: Alfonso Visconte 1589-1591, Camillo Caetano 1591-1592, (Nuntiaturberichte aus Deutschland nebst ergänzende Aktenstücke IIIa/2/3), ed. by J. Schweizer, Paderborn 1919, pp. xvi-xxxiii. Henry Biaudet (1910), Les nonciatures apostoliques permanentes jusqu'en 1648, , Helsinki: Suomalainen tiedeakatemia, p. 292. and Bonifacio Bevilacqua (1601–1627),Bevilacqua died in Rome on 7 April 1627. Gauchat, Hierarchia catholica IV, p. 5, no. 22. named a Cardinal by Pope Clement VIII on 3 March 1599, and a friend of Pope Gregory XV (Ludovisi), who made him Duke of Fornano.

In 1484, the town of Cervia was destroyed by an earthquake. The Major Council of Ravenna discussed rebuilding the town. Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 499: "Ann. 1485. Martii 9. De reparatione ruinarum Cerviae secutae et terremotibus anni superioris." Cited by Mario Baratta, I terremoti d'Italia (Torino: de Bocca 1901), p. 81.

Bishop Ottavio Santacroce (1576–1581) held a diocesan synod in 1577.Cappelletti II, p. 571.

On 16 June 1641, Cervia was heavily damaged by a major earthquake. In expiation, the bishop and magistrates instituted an annual procession from the city to Santa Maria del Pino, bearing the remains of the martyr S. Rogatus.Ferdinando Forlivesi, Cervia. Cenni storici (Bologna 1889), p. 186. Mario Baratta, I terremoti d'Italia (Torino: de Bocca 1901), p. 133. Cappelletti II, p. 571.

In 1766, the city of Cervia, which was subject to the civil jurisdiction of the papacy in the legation of the Romandiola, contained around 800 persons.Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 160, note 1.

The cathedral of Cervia was dedicated to the taking up of the body (Assumption) of the Virgin Mary into heaven. It was administered and staffed by a corporation called the Chapter, consisting of two dignities (the Archdeacon and the Provost) and eight canons.Cappelletti II, p. 575.

In the 19th century, the diocese was composed of only 12 parishes, the entire city of Cervia composing one of those parishes.Cappelletti II, p. 575.

On 22 February 1947, the diocese of Cervia was suppressed, and its territory incorporated into the archdiocese of Ravenna.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 39 (1947), pp. 225-226. A new archbishop of Ravenna-Cervia was appointed on 10 March 1947: p. 107: "Ravennatensem et Episcopum Gerviensem, Iacobum Lercaro."

Bishops Erected: 6th Century Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ravenna

to 1300

Gerontius of Cervia, († 501)Gerontius: Zattoni, pp. 1-10. Lanzoni, pp. 713-714. Severus (attested 591-599)Lanzoni, p. 714. Bonus (attested 649)Bonus: Cappelletti II, p. 559. ... Adrianus (attested 853)"Adrianus episc. Cerensis" subscribed the decrees of the Roman council of Pope Leo IV in December 853. J.D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus 14 (Venice: A. Zatta 1769), p. 1020. Ughelli II, p. 468, citing Baronius, Annales Ecclesiastici. Cappelletti II, p. 559. Gams, p. 680. Joannes (attested 858–881)In 872, Pope Adrian II granted Bishop Joannes the privilege of founding the monastery of S. Maria de Balneo. On 20 July 881, Pope John VIII appointed Bishop Joannes to be the apostolic visitor of Faenza, on the death of Bishop Romanus. Cappelletti II, pp. 559-560. Kehr V, p. 114, no. 5. ... Stephanus (attested 967–969)Bishop Stephanus attended the Roman council of Pope John XIII, in May 969. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum... Vol. 19 (Venice 1774), p. 21. Cappelletti II, p. 560. Schwartz, p. 166. ... Leo (attested 997–1035)Leo: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 189. Cappelletti II, p. 560. Schwartz, p. 166. ... Joannes (attested 1040–1053)On 12 August 1042, Bishop Joannes granted a salt pan to the monastery of S. Andrea: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 206. Schwartz, p. 166. ... Bonus (attested 1057–1061)Bonus subscribed a document in 1061: Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo III (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 25. Cappelletti II, p. 560. Gams, p. 680, col. 2. Schwartz, p. 166. Lucidus (attested 1066)Lucidus: Cappelletti II, pp. 560-561. Gams, p. 680, col. 2. Ildeprandus (attested 1073–1080)On 9 September 1073, Bishop Ildebrandus granted property to the monastery of S. Apollinare nuovo. Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), pp. 222-223. Schwartz, p. 167. Cappelletti II, p. 561. Gams, p. 680, col. 2. ... Ugo (attested 1106)On 11 July 1106, Bishop Ugo issued a decree, reforming the terms under which the canons of the cathedral lived and conducted their business. Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. VI (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1804), p. 34. Joannes (attested 1109)Joannes: Schwartz, p. 167. ... Petrus (attested 1126–1153)Petrus: Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), pp. 264, 267, 269, 349. Schwartz p. 167. ... Manfredus (attested 1163)In 1163 Bishop Manfredus Episcopus Ficlen. made his Will. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo, Volume 5 (Venezia 1802), p. 164. Albertus (attested 1166–1173)Albertus: Ughelli II, pp. 468-469. Ugo (attested 1174–1175)Ugo: Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 273. ... Thebaldus (attested 1187-1193)On 15 October 1187, Pope Urban III (1185–1187), following the example of Pope Lucius III (1181–1185), took the diocese of Cervia under papal protection. Kehr V, p. 115, no. 7. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 423. On 24 May 1193, Bishop Thebaldus granted properties to the monastery of S. Andrea: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), p. 292. ... Albertus (attested 1198–1200)On 11 May 1198, Bishop Albertus subscribed a document, witnessing the return of property to the diocese. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), pp. 319, 373. Antonio Tarlazzi (ed.), Appendice ai Monumenti Ravennati dei secoli di mezzo, , Vol. 1 (Ravenna: Angeletti, 1872), p. 67. Eubel I, p. 183. Simeon (attested 1204–1217)On 17 May 1204, Bishop Simeon renewed leases on salt pans and other properties for the monastery of S. Andrea: Marco Fantucci, Monumenti ravennati de'secoli di mezzo, Vol. 4 (Venezia: Stampe di F. Andreola, 1802), pp. 313-316. Bishop Simeon was transferred to the diocese of Ravenna by Pope Honorius III on 5 March 1217. Eubel I, pp. 183 with note 1; 415 with note 2. Rusticus (attested 1219, 1223) Joannes (attested 1229–1253)On 29 May 1231, Bishop Joannes witnessed a donation made by the Archbishop of Ravenna to the monastery of S. Maria in Insula. Marco Fantuzzi, Monumenti Ravennati de secoli di mezzo per la maggior parte inediti, Tomo II (Venezia: Francesco Andreola, 1802), p. 306.