synoden schaffen räume: metropolen, diözesen und pfarreien in den synodalkanones des 9. jahrhunderts

This study on »space in canon law« investigates the concepts of provincial, diocesis and parrocchia in the synodal decisions and the capitularies of bishops in the ninth century. The space of provincia was not precisely determined at the end of this age. Perhaps not even the provincial council is differentiated from a diocesan synod. The space of the diocese in the ninth century is best known by the trip of visitation that the bishops had undertaken since late Antiquity. In his capitularies, the bishop speaks to all members of his diocese, clergy and laity, and he provides them precepts and prohibitions. The new significance of the diocese is also made clear by the prohibition of transmigration and transfer of bishops from one diocese to another, which gained new importance during the ninth century. The subdivision of a diocese into several districts of deans can already be found in the middle of this age. The smallest format of space in the canon law was the parrocchia, the parish. We must be careful in using this term, because it often also means bishopric or diocese. The parish was defined as the space where only one priest has the right to hold his office. Since the ninth century, parish and diocese are very precisely defined as particular spaces. Bishop Theodulf of Orléans (798–818) and archbishop Hincmar of Reims (845–882) made numerous remarks in their capitularies about the formation of diocese and parish.