Rheims Cathedral (Part Four)

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unless otherwise accredited.

Rheims Cathedral façade

Photo taken April 2011 by Traveler100

In 2011, the city of Reims celebrated the cathedral's 800th anniversary. The celebrations ran from 6 May to 23 October. Concerts, street performances, exhibitions, conferences, and a series of evening light shows highlighted the Cathedral and its 800th anniversary. In addition, six new stained glass windows, designed by Imi Knoebel, a German artist, were inaugurated on 25 June, 2011. The six windows cover an area of 128m² and are positioned on both sides of the Chagall windows in the apse of the cathedral.

Rheims Cathedral interior.

From Wikimedia Commons.

Photo: Josep Renalias

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims (Latin: Archidioecesis Remensis) is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese around 250 A.D., by St. Sixtus, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750 A.D. The archbishop received the title "primate of Gallia Belgica" in 1089.

In 1023, Archbishop Ebles acquired the Countship of Reims, making him a prince-bishop; it became a duchy and a peerage between 1060 and 1170.

Gallery of the kings on Rheims Cathedral.

The archdiocese comprises the arrondissement of Reims and the département of Ardennes, while the province comprises the région of Champagne-Ardenne. The suffragan dioceses within Reims are Amiens, Beauvais-Noyon-Senlis, Châlons, Langres, Soissons–Laon–Saint-Quentin, and Troyes. The Archepiscopal See is located in the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, where the Kings of France were traditionally crowned.

The current archbishop is Thierry Romain Camille Jordan, who was appointed in 1999.

Rheims Cathedral Triforium.

Nef de la cathédrale de Reims, montrant la galerie du triforium.

From Wikimedia Commons.

Photo: March 2007. Taken by 

Vassil.

Reims, located in the North-East of France, hosted several Councils or Synods in the Roman Catholic Church. These Councils did not universally represent the Church and are not counted among the official Ecumenical Councils.

The first Synod, said to have been held at Reims by Archbishop Sonnatius, between 624 A.D.-630 A.D., is probably identical with that held at Clichy (Clippiacum) in 626 A.D. or 627 A.D.

In 813 A.D., Archbishop Wulfar presided at a Synod of Reform (Werminghoff in "Mon. Germ. Hist.: Concilia aevi Carol. I", I, Hanover, 1904, 253 sq.).

A Council, usually called the Synod of St-Basle, was convoked at Reims by King Hugues Capet, assisted by Gerbert of Aurillac, later Pope Sylvester II, to consider the case of Arnulf, Archbishop of Reims, illegitimate son of the late King Lothair.

Arnulf (Archbishop of Reims) at the Council of Reims in 991 A.D.

Arnulf was accused of conspiring with his uncle, Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine, against Hugues Capet. He was duly deposed by the Council, and Gerbert appointed in his place. This was done without the approval of Pope John XV, who refused to accept either Arnulf's removal or Gerbert's appointment. The matter dragged on until 995 A.D., when Arnulf was restored, and was only completely resolved by Pope Gregory V in 997.

Exterior view of the Chevet of Rheims Cathedral

From Wikimedia Commons.

Photo taken May 2009 by Marie51.

Held by Pope Leo IX, the Council of Rheims in 1049 A.D. inquired into Simony. Hugo of Breteuil, Bishop of Langres, fled the proceedings, and was deposed. According to Eamon Duffy: "In one week, Leo IX had asserted papal authority as it had never been asserted before".

The Council also excommunicated Geoffrey Martel, for the imprisonment of Gervase, Bishop of Le Mans.

On 3 October 1054, a Rheims Council had a dogmatic declaration about the primacy of the Roman Pontiff as Successor of Peter: "declaratum est quod solus Romanae sedis pontifex universalis Ecclesiae Primas esset et Apostolicus".

THIS CONCLUDES THE ARTICLE ON RHEIMS CATHEDRAL