Citharizum
Citharizum (Greek: Κιθαρίζων) was a town and fortress on the south arm of the Euphrates[1] in the Roman province of Armenia III. It was a place of great strength which was built by the emperor Justinian and was the residence of one of the five prefects whom that emperor placed over Roman Armenia with the title of “Dux.”[2]
According to Procopius of Caesarea, the city was located in the Asthianene region.[3] The fortress was separated from Theodosiopolis (ancient Armenia) by a journey of four days.[4] Balabitene, a region between Mons Masius and Anti-Taurus, north of Commagene and Mesopotamia, is also discussed as a possible location. Citharizum is often associated with the modern village of Keteriz.[5]
Although only a small town, it was an important point of defence for the Byzantine Empire against the Persians. Justinian built a castle there, in which he stationed a garrison under the command of a duke.[6] In 613, it was taken by Ashot, a general of the Persian king, Chosroes II.[7]
Bishopric
The only diocesan bishop of the see whose name is recorded is Marcian, who attended the Trullan Council of 692.[8]
No longer a residential bishopric, Citharizum is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.[9]
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Citharizum is a titular see of the Catholic Church.[10]
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
A titular see of Armenia. The city was situated in Asthianene or Balabitene, a region between Masius and Anti-Taurus, north of Commagene and Mesopotamia. Justinian built a castle there, in which he stationed a garrison under the command of a duke. He also included it in the province, Armenia Quarta, which he had just formed. In 613 Citharizum was taken by Ashot, a general of the Persian king, Chosroes II. In the records of the trullan Council (692) we meet the name of Marianus, Bishop of Kitharizon (or Kithariza), for the name seems to have been indeclinable (Lequien, I, 453). No other bishop is known. the city is mentioned in Parthey, "Notitia Prima", about 840 as belonging to Armenia Quarta, under the metropolis of Melitene. It is identified with the modern village Keterig.
References
- Back to citation "The Classical Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
- Back to citation Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Citharizon
- Back to citation Procopius, Buildings Book III, University of Chicago
- Back to citation Procopius, History of the Wars Book II, Chapter XXIII, en.wikisource.org
- Back to citation Sophrone Pétridès, "Citharizum" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 1908); Titular Episcopal See of Citharizum, gcatholic.org; Others associate ancient Kitharizon with the present-day location Yeni Köy. Map 89 Armenia, princeton.edu
- Back to citation Sophrone Pétridès, "Citharizum" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 1908); Raymond Janin, v. Citharizum, in Dictionnaire d'Histoire et de Géographie ecclésiastiques, vol. XII, Parigi 1953, col. 997; Antoine-Augustin Bruzen de La Martinière, Le Grand dictionnaire géographique, historique et critique (1768), p. 436
- Back to citation Sophrone Pétridès, "Citharizum" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 1908)
- Back to citation Sophrone Pétridès, "Citharizum" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 1908); Raymond Janin, v. Citharizum, in Dictionnaire d'Histoire et de Géographie ecclésiastiques, vol. XII, Parigi 1953, col. 997; Pius Bonifacius Gams, Series episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Leipzig 1931, p. 441; Michel Lequien, Oriens christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus, Paris 1740, Vol. I, coll. 453-454
- Back to citation Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 871
- Back to citation Wikidata item Q1093331
External links
- A map of Sassanid Persia showing Kitharizon, situated south of Theodosiopolis, north of Amida, east of Arsamosata and west of Manazkert: Map
