History
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Despite the usual claims of foundation in the apostolic age, there is no evidence of Christianity in Anagni until the 4th century, and, as a bishopric, the diocese first appears in history in the fifth century.[3] Felix, Bishop of Anagni, was present at the Lateran Synod of Pope Felix III held in 487.[4]
In a later century the Bishopric of Anagni obtained some attention because its occupant received special consideration from the popes. Zacharias of Anagni was one of the legates of Pope Nicholas I at the Council of Constantinople in 861, to deal with the election of Photius to the patriarchate of Constantinople. Zacharias disobeyed his instructions, however, and entered into communion with the excommunicated schismatic Photius, and was therefore excommunicated himself and deposed from his bishopric of Anagni by Pope Nicholas, in his fourth Roman synod of 863.[5]
Stephen, a native of Rome and son of a Roman priest named Joannes, became Bishop of Anagni, and was consecrated by Pope Formosus (891–896). On the death of Formosus, and after the fifteen-day reign of Boniface VI (April 896), Stephen became Pope. He summoned and presided over the notorious "Cadaver synod", which put the dead body of Pope Formosus on trial, convicted him, and ordered his body thrown into the Tiber River.[6] Pope Stephen ruled for one year, three months, and eighteen days, and was then deposed, imprisoned, and strangled.[7]
Four natives of Anagni, all members of the same family, became popes: Innocent III (1198-1216);[8] Gregory IX (1227–1241);[9] Alexander IV (1254–1261);[10] and Boniface VIII (1294-1303). Numerous popes made Anagni their summer residence, or their refuge from Romans and emperors.[11]
According to a local legend of Anagni, Thomas Becket in his exile from England, was received in 1169 at Anagni by the canons,[12] and a chapel, which had once been a Mithraeum, was consecrated in his honor in the crypt of the cathedral, apparently at the request of Henry II of England.[13]
Pope Boniface VIII was violently attacked at Anagni by Guillaume de Nogaret, the chancellor of Philippe le Bel, and Sciarra Colonna. He was so badly treated that he died two weeks later, after having fled to Rome.[14]
Chapter
In 1244, Pope Innocent IV intervened in a jurisdictional dispute between Bishop Pandulfus and the cathedral Chapter, deciding that the bishop should not have the exclusive right to name the rectors of the city churches, but that the assent of the Chapter was required for all of the bishop's nominations.[15]
On 28 February 1251, Pope Innocent IV wrote to Bishop Pandulfus about the staffing of the cathedral Chapter; he had found that there was only one priest, and no deacons or subdeacons, actually seeing to services, and he authorized the bishop and the Canons to appoint two canons and two priests who were willing to reside at the cathedral.[16] A few years later, Pope Alexander IV (1254–1261) fixed the number of dignities in the Cathedral Chapter at three: the Primicerius, the Archpriest and the Vicedominus; the number of Canons was limited to twenty-four. The right to elect the Archpriest belonged to the Canons, not to the bishop.[17] The dignity of Provost was instituted by Pope Boniface VIII (1294–1303).[18] In 1708, the Chapter of the cathedral of S. Maria Annunziata had one dignity, the Provost, and twenty Canons.[19] The right of the Canons to elect a bishop was usurped by Pope John XXII in 1316.[20]
Diocesan synods
The Fourth Lateran Council (1216) decreed that provincial synods should be held annually in each ecclesiastical province, and that each diocese should hold annual diocesan synods.[21]
A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, 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.[22]
A diocesan synod was held by Bishop Gaspare Viviani (1579–1605) on 4–5 March 1596.[23]
In 1630, Bishop Giovanni Gaspare Melis (1626–1642) presided over a diocesan synod, and in 1645, Bishop Sebastiano Gentile (1642–1646) held a diocesan synod.[24] Bishop Bernardino Masseri (1681–1695) held a diocesan synod in Anagni on 21–22 May 1685.
Bishop Giovanni Battista Bassi (1708–1736) presided over a diocesan synod, held in Anagni on 25–27 June 1713.[25] Bishop Cirillo Antonini (1778–1789) held a diocesan synod on 22–25 October 1780.[26]
On 1–3 September 1805, Bishop Gioacchino Tosi (1804–1815) presided at a diocesan synod in the Basilica Cathedral of S. Maria in Anagni.[27]
