The Diocese of Polignano or Diocese of Polinianum (Latin: Dioecesis Polinianensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Polignano in the province of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy, located on the Adriatic Sea. In 1818, the diocese was suppressed, and its territory and Catholic population were assigned to the Diocese of Monopoli."Diocese of Polignano" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved May 1, 2016."Titular Episcopal See of Polignano" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved May 1, 2016. The title, though not the diocese itself, was restored as a titular See in 1968.

History

It has been claimed that a church, dedicated to Saint Peter, existed in Polignano in the 3rd century;D'Avino, p. 330, column 2: "Veniamo alle particolarità della cattedra. Sebbene si dica stabilita in Polignano dal secolo terzo della nostra èra una Chiesa decorata del titolo di S. Pietro, retta da un abate con propria giuridizione, contuttociò è nella tradizione della città, di non esservi staio posto il vescovato che nel quinto secolo." Christianity, however, was still an unauthorized and illegal cult until after the Edict of Milan.

The existence of a papal bull, dated 530, and said to contain a reference to "Rev. Episcopus Polianen.," is mentioned by F.F. Favale.Bianca Valentini (2017), in: The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at Polignano a mare, p. 14, citing: F. F. Favale, Polignano. La sua diocesi. I suoi pastori, Monopoli 1986, ed. Fasano 1992, pp. 156-157. Valenti appears to give the reference of Favale no credence, since she goes on immediately, "The most accredited evidence in this regard is that Polignano might have been an Episcopal See since the seventh century, given the fact that around the year 672 one may find the first mention of a bishop in Polignano, namely, Pietro I." The pope of 530 is not named (there were three, one of whom at least was an antipope), nor the nature of the reference; several forgeries of that year are known.Philippus Jaffe, Regesta pontificum Romanorum, Vol. 1, second edition (Leipzig: Veit 1885), pp. 111-112, registers three. Kehr IX, p. 369: "Archivi capitularis pars in civitatem Monopolitanam translata est (cf. Praitano p. 65), pars adhuc Poliniani adservatur (cf. Gott. Nachr. 1898, p. 241). Neque hie neque illic documenta sive pontificum sive regum antiquiora ad res Polinianenses spectantia invenimus."

St. Vitus and the diocese of Polignano

In 1659, Ferdinando Ughelli published a work entitled, "Translatio S. Viti cum sociis in territorio Polymniani," which apparently marked the establishment of the diocese and the first bishop, in 672.F. Ughelli, Italia sacra Tomus VII, first edition (Rome: V. Mascardi 1659), pp. 1015-1019. He treats the text as though it were a historical document. The first part of the narrative takes place on the Amalfi coast, where a princess of Salerno named Florentia is caught in a flood, in a place called Marianus; St. Vitus appears to her, after she has called on God and the local martyrs for help. In return, Vitus commands her to locate his tomb, and those of his two companions, Modestus and Crescentia,Lanzoni, pp. 320-321. which she was unable to do, building a votive church instead. With the help of a hermit named John, over a period of twenty years she located the bodies, and buried them in her church. Florentia then went on a pilgrimage, in a large well-stocked ship built for her by her brother, who became ill during her absence in Jerusalem. Her prayers were of no help, but S. Vitus appeared to her in a dream, reminding her that he had expressed the wish to be buried at "Marianus". When she awoke, he appeared to her in the form of the doctor, and told her that he wished to be in Apulia in a place near Castro Polymnianense.Valentini (2017), in: The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at Polignano a mare, p. 14. On the return journey from the Holy Land, a young man appeared on the yardarms, and announced that he was Vitus of Lucania,Lanzoni, p. 321: "L'autore della Passione dei ss. Vito, Modesto e Orescenzia sottopose i suoi eroi ai più fieri tormenti in Roma, perchè in Roma compose il suo scritto, precisamente presso il titolo diaconale di s. Vito in Macello, e trasferì s. Vito per mezzo di celesti spiriti in Lucania, perchè sapeva bene che il titolare di questa chiesa urbana non era sepolto in Eoma, bensì presso il Tanagro e il Sele nella Lucania, ove era morto." The "Passio" is a different document from the "Translatio". and on the 24th day, the ship reached Marianum. They debarked, and sent a messenger to Bari, where they bought horses, and within a week had found the place where the sarcophagi in which the bodies of the saints were resting. Archbishop Nicholas of Salerno had the bodies exhumed, placed in silk, and exposed for veneration. They then sent letters and messengers to the pope to explain their doings, which the pope in return approved.

The party of the prince, princess, and archbishop then collected the relics, and carried them to Canne, where Bishop Petrus of Canne received them kindly,There is no reference to a bishop of Cann(a)e between 496 and 963, and there is no Bishop Petrus until the second half of the 13th century: Cappelletti XXI, p. 67. rejoicing in the orders of the pope and the commands of the saints. The archbishop of Salerno and the bishop of Canne then led the entire crowd back to Marianus, which was in the diocese of the bishop of Canne, where they founded a church.Ughelli VII, first edition, p. 1019: "Locus enim ipse Marianus erat de iurisdictione predicti Antistitis Canusini. Tunc ad eundem locum regulari institutione benedicentes cum gratiarum actione devenerunt ad construendum Ecclesias ad honorem Dei, & Sanctorum Martyrum assignarunt". The translation of the relics was completed on 26 April .The text of the "Translatio" says it was the year 801, but Ughelli (VII, p. 1020) pointed out that Venerable Bede, who died in 735, already knew about the translation. The date of 672 is conjectural: "quo verò anno, in obscuro est, nisi divinare velimus ex quadam probabili coniectura illam evenisse anno 672, quo Resurrectionis Dominicæ festum incidit die 25. Aprilis vt idem testatur Beda de temporum ratione in trigesimo sexto circulo novennali...." Also, Valentini (2017), in: The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at Polignano a mare, p. 63, note 9.

Valentini remarks, "Consequently, scholars have hypothesized that in that same date the church of Polignano might have been raised to the status of an Episcopal See, concomitant with the arrival of Pietro I." But there is no proof whatever.Valentini (2017), in: The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at Polignano a mare, p. 14. There is no reference to a bishop of Cann(a)e between 496 and 963, and there is no Bishop Petrus until the second half of the 13th century: Cappelletti XXI, p. 67. Klewitz, pp. 57-58. Petrus is not called "bishop of Polignano"; and the first archbishop of Salerno was Amatus, in 983.

Papal privileges The diocese of Polignano appears among the dioceses belonging to the ecclesiastical province of Bari in privileges granted by Alexander II (1063), Urban II (1089), Eugenius III (1152), and Alexander III (1172).Klewitz, pp. 34-37. Kehr IX, pp. 318-323, nos. 4, 7, 13, 15.

Chapter and cathedral The cathedral of Polignano was dedicated to the Assumption of the body of the Virgin Mary into Heaven. The cathedral was administered by a corporate body called the Chapter, which was composed of four dignities (the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, and two Primicerii) and eighteen canons.Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica V, p. 319, note 1.

The medieval cathedral was consecrated in 1295. In 1351, Bishop Nicola da Giovinazzo built the chapel of the Annunciation in the cathedral.Valentini (2017), in: The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at Polignano a mare, p. 34. In 1513, Bishop Cristoforo Magnavivo (Magnacurius) (1508–1517) reconsecrated the medieval cathedral, which had undergone extensive restoration.Valentini (2017), p. 38. Santos (2017), in: The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at Polignano a mare, p. 73. In 1600, Bishop Giovanni Battista Guenzato conducted further reconstructions.Valenti (2017), pp. 41-42.

After the French Following the extinction of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Congress of Vienna authorized the restoration of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples. Since the French occupation had seen the abolition of many Church institutions in the Kingdom, as well as the confiscation of most Church property and resources, it was imperative that Pope Pius VII and King Ferdinand IV reach agreement on restoration and restitution. Ferdinand demanded the suppression of fifty dioceses. Lengthy, detailed, and acrimonious negotiations ensued.F. Artaud de Montor, Histoire du Pape Pie VII Vol. II, second edition (Paris: Adrien Leclerc 1837), pp. 507-509. On 17 July 1816, King Ferdinand issued a decree, in which he forbade the reception of any papal document without prior reception of the royal exequatur. This meant that prelates could not receive bulls of appointment, consecration, or installation without the king's permission.Vito Giliberti (1845), Polizia ecclesiastica del regno delle due Sicilie , (Napoli: F. Azzolini), pp. 399-400.

A concordat was finally signed on 16 February 1818, and ratified by Pius VII on 25 February 1818. Ferdinand issued the concordat as a law on 21 March 1818.F. Torelli (1848), La chiave del concordato dell'anno 1818 I, second edition (Naples: Fibreno 1848), pp. 1-19. On 27 June 1818, Pius VII issued the bull De Ulteriore, in which, the decision was made to suppress permanently the diocese of Polignano, and to incorporate its territory into the diocese of Monopoli.Pius VII, Bullarii Romani Continuatio Tomus 25 (Rome 1853), p. 59 § 25: "Supprimimus insuper episcopalem ecclesiam Polisnanensem, atque illius civitatem ac dioecesim episcopali ecclesiae Monopolitanae perpetuo adnectimus et adjungimus..." The former cathedral became a collegiate church.Cappelletti XXI, p. 389. A collegiate church is administered by a college of Canons.

Titular see

On 19 July 1968, Rev. Paul Anderson was appointed Auxiliary Bishop and Coadjutor with the right of succession of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, for which purpose he was named titular bishop of Polignano, thereby reviving the title (though not the diocese) of Polignano.Acta Apostolicae Sedis 60 (Città del Vaticano 1968), p. 581.

Bishops of Polignano Erected: 7th Century Latin Name: Polinianensis Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bari-Canosa

to 1500

... [Ambrosius (1109)]Klewitz, p. 58. Unattested. ... Milo (attested 1152)Milo: Klewitz, p. 58. Kehr IX, p. 379. ... Arpinus (attested 1176–1202)Bishop Arpinus took part in the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in March 1179. Kamp. pp. 648-649. Kehr IX, pp. 369-370, nos. 1-3. Boetius (attested 1208–1217)Bishop Boetius took part in the Fourth Lateran Council of Pope Innocent III in 1215. Kamp, p. 650. ... Guilelmus (attested 1295, 1327)Guilelmus probably died towards the end of 1329. His successor was appointed in Avignon on 19 January 1330. Ughelli VII, p. 754. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 405. Matthaeus, O.P (1330–1332)Following the death of Bishop Guilelmus, Pope John XXII exercised his reservation of the bishopric of Polignano, and provided (appointed) Matthaeus, the bishop of Avlona (Aulon, Dalmatia), on 19 January 1330. G. Mollat, Jean XXII. Lettres communes, Tome IX (Paris: E. De Boccard ), p. 174, no. 48171. Cappelletti XXI, p. 390. Eubel I, p. 405.