Council of Aachen
Encyclopedia
A number of significant councils of the Roman Catholic Church
were held at Aachen
in the early Middle Ages.
In the mixed council of 798, Charlemagne
proclaimed a capitulary
of eighty-one chapters, largely a repetition of earlier ecclesiastical legislation, that was accepted by the clergy and acquired canonical authority. At the council of 799, after a discussion of six days Felix, Bishop of Urgel in Spain, avowed himself overcome by Alcuin
and withdrew his theory of Adoptianism.
At the council held in 809, the Frankish Church adopted the filioque addition in the Creed (which contributed to the East-West Schism
), although Pope Leo III refused to recognize it as valid (and the Church of Rome did not accepted this addition until 1014).
In the synods of 816, 817, 818, and 819, clerical and monastic discipline was the chief issue, and the Regula Aquensis was made obligatory on all establishments of canons and canonesses, while a new revision of the Rule of St. Benedict was imposed on the monks of the Benedictine Order by Benedict of Aniane
. The synod of 836 was largely attended and devoted itself to the restoration of ecclesiastical discipline that had been affected by the civil wars between Louis the Pious
and his sons.
From 860 to 862 three councils were occupied with the question of the divorce of King Lothaire I from his wife, Theutberga.
In 1166 took place the schismatic council, approved by the Antipope Paschal III
, in which was decreed the canonization
of Charlemagne, that was solemnly celebrated 29 December of that year.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
were held at Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
in the early Middle Ages.
In the mixed council of 798, Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
proclaimed a capitulary
Capitulary
A capitulary was a series of legislative or administrative acts emanating from the Frankish court of the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties, especially that of the first emperor, Charlemagne...
of eighty-one chapters, largely a repetition of earlier ecclesiastical legislation, that was accepted by the clergy and acquired canonical authority. At the council of 799, after a discussion of six days Felix, Bishop of Urgel in Spain, avowed himself overcome by Alcuin
Alcuin
Alcuin of York or Ealhwine, nicknamed Albinus or Flaccus was an English scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert at York...
and withdrew his theory of Adoptianism.
At the council held in 809, the Frankish Church adopted the filioque addition in the Creed (which contributed to the East-West Schism
East-West Schism
The East–West Schism of 1054, sometimes known as the Great Schism, formally divided the State church of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western branches, which later became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, respectively...
), although Pope Leo III refused to recognize it as valid (and the Church of Rome did not accepted this addition until 1014).
In the synods of 816, 817, 818, and 819, clerical and monastic discipline was the chief issue, and the Regula Aquensis was made obligatory on all establishments of canons and canonesses, while a new revision of the Rule of St. Benedict was imposed on the monks of the Benedictine Order by Benedict of Aniane
Benedict of Aniane
Saint Benedict of Aniane , born Witiza and called the Second Benedict, was a Benedictine monk and monastic reformer, who left a large imprint on the religious practice of the Carolingian Empire...
. The synod of 836 was largely attended and devoted itself to the restoration of ecclesiastical discipline that had been affected by the civil wars between Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious , also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781. He was also King of the Franks and co-Emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813...
and his sons.
From 860 to 862 three councils were occupied with the question of the divorce of King Lothaire I from his wife, Theutberga.
In 1166 took place the schismatic council, approved by the Antipope Paschal III
Antipope Paschal III
Antipope Paschal III was Antipope from 1164 to 20 September 1168.His real name was Guido of Crema. Paschal III was the second of the antipopes to challenge the reign of Pope Alexander III. In 1164, a small number of cardinals who had elected Victor IV met again to vote Paschal III as his successor...
, in which was decreed the canonization
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
of Charlemagne, that was solemnly celebrated 29 December of that year.