The Archdiocese of Modena–Nonantola () is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. It existed as the Diocese of Modena in central Italy from the 4th century.Vedriani, p. 13. Ughelli, p. 75, points out that there is no reference to a bishop or a diocese before 339. Lanzoni, p. 791. Originally it was a suffragan (subject to) the diocese of Milan, but later became a suffragan of Ravenna. Because of the schism of the Antipope Clement III, Pope Paschal II released Modena from obedience to the church of Ravenna, but Pope Gelasius II restored the previous status.Kehr, p. 299. Modena continued as a suffragan of Ravenna until 1582, when the Archdiocese of Bologna was created by Pope Sixtus V in the Bull Universi orbis of 1 December 1582, and was assigned Modena as one of its suffragans.The suffragans of Bologna were: Piacenza, Parma, Reggio, Modena, Imola, Cervia, and Crema. Kehr, Italia pontificia V, p. 299.

In 1820 the diocese of Modena incorporated the territory of Nonantola Abbey. Modena was raised to the status of an archdiocese and its bishop to the status of a Metropolitan Archbishop by Pope Pius IX in his bull of 22 August 1855, entitled Vel ab antiquis.Cappelletti, pp. 298-308. The archdiocese took the current form of its name in 1986. Its suffragans are the Diocese of Carpi, Diocese of Fidenza, Diocese of Parma, Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio, and Diocese of Reggio Emilia–Guastalla.

History

On 7 July 1148, in a synod held at Cremona, Pope Eugene III condemned the city of Modena and divided its territory among four neighboring bishoprics, so that the bishop of Modena was left being a bishop nullius dioecesis. It is known, from a decree of 8 April 1149, that he assigned ten parishes of Modena to the diocese of Reggio.Tiraboschi, Memorie III, p. 21. Concerning the restitution of the diocese, perhaps by Pope Eugenius, perhaps by Pope Adrian IV, there is no information. Cardinal Hildebrandus Crassus was named Rector et Procurator Ecclesiae Mutinensis, and he subscribed documents with that title from 1150 up until 1155.Tiraboschi, Storia...di Nonantola (1784), p. 40. Cappelletti, p. 260. Klaus Ganzer. Die Entwicklung des auswärtigen Kardinalats im hohen Mittelalter (Tübingen 1963), p. 101. Barbara Zenker, Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums von 1130 bis 1159 (Würzburg 1964), pp. 107-108. Kehr, pp. 304-305, nos. 15-18. Disruptions, however, continued for generations. In 1231 Pope Gregory IX had to order the monastery of S. Peter in Modena to submit to the rule of the bishop of Modena, rejecting their argument that Pope Eugene's release from subjection to the bishop had had a permanent effect, and that the monastery was still in 1231 immediately subject to the Holy See (Papacy).Tiraboschi, Memorie III, p. 182; IV, pp. 105-106.

During the episcopacy of Bishop Giovanni Morone (1529–1550; 1564–1571), both the Jesuit Order and the Capuchin Order were introduced into the diocese of Modena. In 1535 he served as papal Nuncio to the King of France, and, from 1536 to 1542, with brief interruptions, Morone was papal Nuntius to the King of Bohemia, Ferdinand, King of the Romans.Ughelli, p. 136. Ludwig Pastor, The history of the popes : from the close of the Middle Ages Volume XI (London: Kegan Paul 1912) pp. 206-207. At the end of 1540, he wrote to Cardinal Farnese, expressing his anxiety about the diocese of Modena, which he considered to be worse than Prague in terms of dubious religious discussions. For his diplomatic work, he received the red hat of the cardinalate on 2 June 1542. On 16 October he was named Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.Eubel, III, p. 27 no. 40. He was then appointed one of the presidents of the Council of Trent, which his work in Germany did much to make possible.

In 1796, Modena and Nonantola became part of the empire of the French Republic, expanding under the military leadership of General Napoleon Bonaparte. The monastery and the diocese of Nonantola were suppressed.Abbazia di Nonantola, Basilica abbaziale, L' abbazia nei secoli: cronologia essenziale, retrieved: 5 November 2018.

On 11 December 1821, Pope Pius VII confirmed in the bull Sacrorum canonum the rearrangements of the dioceses in the Duchy of Modena which had been worked out by the Sacred Consistorial Congregation. These adjustments had been made necessary by the intrusive enactments made by the occupying French governments of the Cisalpine Republic and the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. Modena, which had been made a suffragan of Milan, was returned to the ecclesiastical province of Bologna, and its acquisition of the territorial Abbey of Nantola was confirmed.

Cathedral and Chapter The fabric of the cathedral was erected during the 11th century. The high altar, dedicated to S. Geminianus, was consecrated by Pope Paschal II, in the presence of Countess Matilda of Tuscany, on 8 October 1106. The remains of S. Geminianus had already been transferred to the new basilica in a ceremony presided over by the Pope and the Countess on 30 April 1106.Ughelli, II, p. 116. Cappelletti, p. 251. Kehr, V, p. 310, no. 1.

In 1184, Pope Lucius III visited Modena, accompanied by ten cardinals, the Archbishops of Ravenna and Lyons, and the Bishops of Reggio and Bologna. On 12 July 1184, he presided over the consecration of the newly refurbished Cathedral.Cappelletti, pp. 260-262.

Canons were already in existence at Modena by 892. A document of the Emperor Guido (891–894), dated November 892, speaks of granting Bishop Leudoinus powers for building ramparts ad muniendam ipsam sanctam Ecclesiam suamque constitutam Canonicam.'... for fortifying the Cathedral itself and its Canonica'. Tiraboschi, Memorie ... Modenesi III, Codex diplomaticus, pp. 66-68. Boschi, p. 92.

Bishop Varinus (c. 1003 – after 1120) had been Primicerius of the Cathedral Chapter before being elected bishop. Bishop Martinus (1207–1221) had been Provost of the Cathedral Chapter when he was elected bishop. Bishop Alberto Boschetti (1234–1264) had been Magister scholae (cantorum) when elected bishop. Bonincontro da Floriano (1313 ? – 1318) had been Archpriest of the Cathedral when elected.Borghi, p. 97-98.

On 9 May 1177, Pope Alexander III ratified the agreement reached by the Chapter, that they would not have more than fourteen Canons. On 30 May 1177, Pope Alexander ratified another decision of the Chapter, not to allow Canons who lived outside the Canonicate to hold prebends.Tiraboschi, Memorie III, Codice diplomatico, p. 70, no. 483. Kehr, p. 310, nos. 6, 7. Cappelletti, p. 318, interprets the words extra morantium, nisi forte in scolis fuerit to mean 'residing outside the city'. In 1679, the Cathedral Chapter was composed of nine dignities and twelve Canons. In 1745 there were twelve dignities and twelve Canons.Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 277 note 1; VI, p. 298 note 1. From 1855, the Chapter has been composed of one dignity, the Archpriest, and twelve Canons.Cappelletti, p. 313.

Synods A diocesan synod was an irregular but important meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See.

Bishop Guido de Baisio (1318–1334) held a diocesan synod on 5–6 May 1320.Sillingardi, p. 110.

Bishop Nicolò Sandonnini (1465–1479) held a diocesan synod in Modena in 1479.Tiraboschi, Storia... Nonantola I, p. 50.

During the episcopate of Cardinal Ercole Rangoni (1520–1527), a synod was held by his Vicar General, Giandomenico Sigibaldi in 1521. A diocesan synod was held in Modena on 4–5 September 1565 during the Administratorship of Cardinal Giovanni Morone (1564–1571), in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent. Morone was particularly eager to have the laity attend the synod, so that they could be better informed about the decrees of the Council.Giuseppe Russo, "Il primo Sinodo modenese dopo il Concilio di Trento," Atti e memorie della deputatione di storia patria per le antiche provincie modenese 10 (1968), pp. 117-124. The Constitutions of the synod of Modena were also published. Bishop Sisto Visdomini (1571–1590) presided over a diocesan synod on 23 September 1572, and again on 25 October 1575. A synod was held by Bishop Gaspare Sillingardi (1593–1607) on 15 June 1594.

Bishop Pellegrino Bertacchi (1610–1627) presided over a diocesan synod held in Modena on 23 May 1612. He also held synods on 21 May 1615, in 1617 and in 1624. His immediate successor, Bishop Alessandro Rangoni (1628–1640) held diocesan synods on 5–6 November 1631,Constitutiones et decreta in diocesana synodo Mutinae, habita anno 1631, die 5 & 6 novembris, iterum ab ilustrissimo & reverendissimo praesule d.d. Alexandro Rangoso, Mutinae episcopo, promulgata anno M.DC.XXXII, mense novembri (Mutine, ex typographia Iuliani Cassiani 1632). and his second on 12–14 October 1637.Constitutiones et Decreta in secunda dioec. synodo Mutin. an. 1637 ah Alex. Rangono Ep. promulgata (Mutinae: Iulianus Cassianus 1637). Bishop Roberto Fontana (1646–1654) held his first diocesan synod on 25 May 1647. On 4–6 June 1659, Bishop Ettore Molza (1655–1679) held his first diocesan synod.Constitvtiones in prima dioecesana synodo decretae die 4, 5, 6 iunij 1659, ab illustrissimo et reverendissimo d.d. Co. Hectore Molza episcopo Mutinen. (Modena: Andrea Cassiani 1660). His second synod was held on 14–16 November 1675.Constitutiones in secunda dioecesana synodo decretae, die 14, 15, 16 novembr. 1675 ab illustriss.mo et reverendiss.mo d. d. Co. Hectore Molza episcopo mutinen., (Mutinae, ex typographia Andreae Cassiani, 1676) Bishop Carlo Molza (1679–1690) presided over a synod in 1687.

There were synods in 1726 and 1739 under Bishop Stefano Fogliani (1717–1742).

A synod of the independent territorial abbey of Nonantola was held at Nonantola on 8 September 1688, under the authority of Cardinal Giacomo de Angelis.

Bishops Diocese of Modena Metropolitan: Archbishop of Ravenna (to 1583)Kehr, V, p. 299.

to 1000

[Cletus (circa 270)]Cletus is first inserted into the list of Bishops of Modena by Ughelli, II, p. 75, who names him as a follower of Dionysius the Areopagite and assigns him a date of 103 AD; he states that he finds no other bishop until 339. Lanzoni, p. 791, notes that Ughelli does so without any source reference, and he rejects Ughelli's claim. Dionisius (325) Antoninus (?) Geminianus (341 – January 349 died)Gams, pp. 757-758. Ughelli, pp. 76-82, quotes the entire Modena legend of the saint. Theodorus (349) [Geminianus (390)]Coleti, in Ughelli, p. 82, introduces the second Geminianus as a contemporary of Attila the Hun. Gams, pp. 757-758. Lanzoni, p. 792, points out that three Geminiani are created to explain the widely differing dates assigned to the one and only Geminianus of Modena. Theodulus (circa 398) [Geminianus (420)]Gams, pp. 757-758. Gregorius (attested 482)Bishop Gregory was consecrated a bishop against his will by Archbishop Joannes I of Ravenna. Lanzoni, p. 793, no. 4. This brought the Archbishop a sharp rebuke from Pope Simplicius. Ughelli, p. 82 (with the wrong date). Kehr, V, p. 301 no. 1. Bassianus (Bassus, Cassianus) (501) Pietro (679) Martino (circa 693) Giovanni (744) Lupicino (749) Geminiano (by 752 – 791)Geminianus was already in office on 18 September 752. He died in July 791. Gams, p. 758. Gisio (c. 796–811) Diodato (Deusdedit) (818–840? died) Jonas (attested 841, 850)Ughelli, p. 97. Hernidus (attested 861) Walpertus (attested 864, 865, 869)Gualperto: Walpertus is not known to Ughelli. Leudoinus (871–893)In November 878, Pope John VIII, who was at Turin, wrote to Bishop Liudoinus and others, summoning them to a synod which he was going to hold at Pavia on 2 December. Kehr, pp. 301-302, no. 3. Gams, p. 758 column 1. Giovanni (898)