Roman Catholic Diocese of Bethléem à Clamecy explained

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bethléem à Clamecy was a crusader bishopric in residential exile with see at Clamecy, Nièvre in Burgundy, eastern France, made exempt (i.e. directly subject to the Holy see, not part of any (French) ecclesiastical province).

History

The Roman Catholic Bishop of the crusader diocese of Bethlehem, in the Holy Land, was favored by William IV, the Count of Nevers who died in Bethlehem as crusader, and inherited from him land near Clamecy (notably the hamlet Pantehenor), where a hospice (Maison-Dieu, a clergy-run hospital) had been established. In 1223, after the 1187 fall of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in Palestine to Ayyubid Sultan Saladin, the Bishop Rainiero (a Cistercian) took residence in Clamecy.

Although the see was never granted membership in the French States-General (arguably being an 'overseas' see), the cathedral was the formal seat of the Diocese of Bethlehem in partibus infidelium (or Bethléem à/les Clamecy) from 1223. Several of its bishops didn't actually reside in their tiny Burgundian bishopric (just Panthenor, the hospice and the chapel plus some revenues), taking up clerical offices elsewhere, as Auxiliary bishop or vicar general in larger (French) (arch)dioceses.

The Dominican Guillaume (instated 1331) probably was the last incumbent of Bethlehem to set foot in his 'original' Palestinian diocese, where he hoped to restore the basilica (raising significant funds) and may have died (1346?47). During the long-standing Papal schism (from 1378), Clamecy had two rivaling series of Bishops from 1379 to 1422 : those loyal to Rome, hence canonical, but in Italian (double) exile, where they could only collect revenues from the see's Italian possessions, and schismatical pretenders, who however took actual possession in (after all French) Burgundy in the name of Antipopes at Avignon (Clement VII and Benedict XIII) or Pisa (Alexander V and John XXIII).

In 1413, King Charles VI of France agreed the see should have the same privileges as all residential French bishoprics, but his clergy kept arguing Clamecy was 'only' a titular see in partibus infidelium, even after the regular legal and canonical nomination by the crown and the Holy see was clearly covered by the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges from 1438 and by the Concordat of Bologna (1516), after which the king delegated his nomination for Clamecy to the Duchy of Nevers. Especially the Diocese of Auxerre and other neighbor sees kept contesting Clamecy's spiritual and canonical jurisdiction, and of course its benefices, seeking recourse in lawsuits, notably with the (regional) parliament (feudal appellate court) on 22 February 1674 and the general assembly of the French clergy on 27 August 1770.

In the second half of the 16th century, they see remained vacant as the nominees of the Dukes of Nevers (by royal delegation) were refused papal confirmation.

The Bishopric of Bethlehem(-Ascalon) in the Holy Land was nominally restored (a first time) in 1462(?), existing as a Latin Catholic titular bishopric alongside the residential Clamecy until its suppression in 1603(?).

In 1790, the Diocese of Bethléem à Clamecy was abolished as a residential see during the French Revolution (later affirmed by the Napoleonic Concordat of 1801), its territory being merged on 29 November into the Diocese of Autun. Presently it is part of the Archdiocese of Sens.

The Bishopric of Bethlehem(-Ascalon) in the Holy Land was nominally restored again on 3 July 1840 by Pope Gregory XVI as a Latin Catholic titular bishopric and this time give the Apostolic succession of the Burgundian Bethlehem; its title was however vested in the Territorial Abbots Ordinaries of the Territorial Abbacy of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune (the sole abbey of the Swiss Congregation of Canons Regular of St. Maurice's Abbey in Switzerland) held the title of Bishop of Bethlehem in personal union from 1840.07.03 until 1970; it has been vacant since 1987.

Episcopal ordinaries

(all Roman rite)

Suffragan Bishops of Bethléem à Clamecy

Cathedral

Its cathedral episcopal see (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Bethléem), dedicated to Our Lady of Bethlehem, now the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bethléem, was started in the 12th as episcopal chapel and completed in the 15th century. Bishop Arnaud de Limone (1436-1457) restored the chapel of Our Lady and fitted it with a chapter of canons.

The hospital and the chapel are now a hotel and restaurant.[1] The chapel is a listed monument since 1927.

The area immediately surrounding the church, on the east side of the river Yonne, is now known as Bethléem,[2] though it is within the commune of Clamecy.

See also

Sources and external links

Cathedral

47.46°N 3.5242°W

Notes and References

  1. http://hotel-restaurant-auberge-reservation-chambre-clamecy-nievre.auberge-la-chapelle.com/ Auberge de la Chapelle
  2. http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/17/news/france.php International Herald Tribune

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