See of Châlons
|
Diocese of Châlons Dioecesis Catalaunensis Diocèse de Châlons |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Location | |
| Country |  France |
| Ecclesiastical province | Reims |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Reims |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 6,501 km2 (2,510 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2013) 265,000 258,500 (97.5%) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 4th Century |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of St. Stephen in Châlons |
| Patron saint | Saint Memmius |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Francois Touvet |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Thierry Jordan |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Châlons (Latin: Dioecesis Catalaunensis; French: Diocèse de Châlons) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Châlons-sur-Marne, France. The diocese comprises the department of Marne, excluding the arrondissement of Reims.
It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Reims.
Local legends maintain that the evangelization of Châlons by St. Memmius, sent thither by St. Peter and assisted by his sister Poma, also by St. Donatian and St. Domitian, took place in the first century. These legends are not creditable, and in the revised list of the diocesan saints in the Breviary (prayer book) these legends have been suppressed.
Louis Duchesne, a prominent scholar of early Christianity in Gaul, assigns the founding of the See of Châlons to the fourth century. Amandinus, who attended the Council of Tours in 461, is traditionally listed as its ninth bishop. Leudomerus (St. Lumier), Bishop of Châlons about 580, was noted for his rapport with animals.
The bishops of Châlons played a part in French history as Peers of France. At the coronation of the Capetian kings, the Bishop of Châlons always carried the royal ring.
The older cathedral at Châlons had been dedicated to Saint Vincent, up to the time of Charles the Bald. It had become the cathedral under Bishop Felix I, ca. 625, when the older cathedral was abandoned. In 931, and again in 963, the town of Châlons suffered serious fires. In 931 the fire was deliberately set by King Raoul (Rudolph) in reprisal for the support given by Bishop Bovo to Count Héribert of Vermandois against the King. In 963 it was Count Héribert of Vermandois who put the city to the flames because Bishop Gebuin had supported the deposition of Héribert's son from the archbishopric of Reims. In both cases the cathedral suffered serious damage. In 1138 the cathedral was struck by lightning and mostly destroyed.
...
Wikipedia