Concilium Germanicum
Concilium Germanicum is called a reform synod of the Germanic bishops held on April 21, 742 under the direction of Boniface .
The efforts of Boniface to reform the Germanic Church culminated in reform synods. The first and most important was the Concilium Germanicum . As archbishop and envoy of the Pope , Boniface chaired the synod, which met on April 21, 742 in an unknown location. In addition to Boniface, six other bishops took part in the synod: Burghard (Würzburg), Regenfried (Cologne), Witta (Büraburg), Willibald (Eichstätt), Dadanus (Erfurt) and Edda (Strasbourg). The synod was supported by the Franconian caretaker Karlmann , who officially convened it. He did not see Boniface as head of the synod, but only as his advisor. The resolutions of the synod were promulgated by Karlmann as a general law.
Among other things, the following was decided:
- Instead of the noble lay people who ruled in some dioceses since the granting of feudal feuds by Karl Martell , bishops were once again installed as heads of the dioceses .
- Every bishop was obliged to visit his parishes during which he gave confirmations . In this context, the custom arose to appoint auxiliary bishops, so-called auxiliary bishops , who support the bishop in his tasks. (+)
- Once a year during Lent, the clergy had to give an account of their conduct in life and office to their bishop. (+)
- Every Maundy Thursday there was to be a mass in which the bishop consecrated the holy oils that had to be collected from him for all parishes in his diocese. (+)
- The clergy were banned from carrying weapons and hunting. (+)
- As a binding monastic rule was St. Benedict for all monasteries prescribed.
(+) These resolutions are still in force today.
literature
- Arnold Angenendt : Concilium Germanium . In: LThK ³ 2 (1996), Sp. 1289f.
- Arnold Angenendt: The early Middle Ages. Western Christianity from 400 to 900 . Stuttgart et al. ³2001, ISBN 3-17-017225-5 , pp. 272f.
- John M. Wallace-Hadrill: The Frankish Church . Oxford 1985.
- Gert Haendler: The Latin Church in the Carolingian Age . Berlin 1985.
- Wilfried Hartmann : The synods of the Carolingian era in the Franconian Empire and in Italy . Paderborn u. a. 1989.
- Theodor Schieffer: Winfried Bonifatius and the Christian foundation of Europe . Freiburg 1954.
- Josef Semmler: Boniface, the Carolingians and "the Franks" . In: Bauer, Dieter; u. a. (Ed.), Mönchtum-Kirche-Herrschaft 750-1000 . Sigmaringen 1998, pp. 3-50.