Iria Flavia facts for kids

Iria Flavia, or simply Iria, is an ancient town in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Today, it's part of the modern town of Padrón. Long ago, it was an important religious center, serving as a bishopric (a region led by a bishop) and is still recognized as a Catholic titular see (a former bishopric that now exists mostly in name).

A Look Back at Iria Flavia's History

Iria Flavia was built where the Sar and Ulla rivers meet. This made it a great port city. It was originally the main home of the Celtic Capori tribe and sat on an important road connecting Braga and Astorga.

When the Romans arrived, they rebuilt this road, calling it Via XVIII or Via Nova. They also renamed the Celtic port Iria Flavia. The name "Flavia" was added to honor the Roman emperor Vespasian.

Much later, in modern times, King Juan Carlos of Spain gave the famous writer Camilo José Cela the special title of Marqués de Iria Flavia, linking him to this historic place.

Iria Flavia's Church History

Iria Flavia became the seat of a bishopric (a bishop's main church area) by the year 561 AD, and possibly even earlier, around 400 AD. This bishopric was also known as Locus Sancti Iacobi, meaning 'place of Saint James'. It was connected to the main church in Braga, Portugal.

Over time, Iria Flavia shared its importance with Compostela. Compostela grew into a huge pilgrimage destination in Iberia, almost as famous as Rome and Jerusalem. Because of this, the bishopric eventually moved entirely to Compostela in 1095. The modern town on the site of ancient Iria Flavia is Padrón.

Why Iria Flavia Was Important

Followers of a bishop named Priscillian were very influential in northwestern Iberia. To bring back traditional Catholic beliefs in the areas that were taken back from the Kingdom of the Suebi (Galicia) around 585 AD, nine new bishoprics were created in Galicia, including Iria Flavia. A document from that time, Parroquial suevo (around 572–582), lists these areas and shows how this region became part of the Visigoth kingdom. The Visigoths themselves became Catholic in 587 AD.

Historians believe that the presence of relics (holy objects) linked to Saint James the Greater might have been the reason Iria was chosen for a bishopric. These relics were later moved to Compostela. It seems the church wanted to control this already special and holy site.

Interestingly, Iria Flavia was chosen even though another Roman town, Aquae Celenae (modern Caldes De Reis), was a much more important administrative center at the time.

The Move to Compostela

Around the year 860, Norse pirates attacked and destroyed Iria Flavia. The bishop and church leaders had to find safety behind the strong walls of Compostela. They asked King Ordoño II and Pope Nicholas I if they could move the bishopric permanently from Iria to Compostela, which was close to the tomb and church of Saint James.

Both the Pope and the King agreed, but only if the honor of the bishopric was shared between both places. However, from the late 800s, the bishops were increasingly known as Compostellani, showing Compostela's growing importance.

In 1024, the bishopric of Iria gained some land from the Diocese of Tui, but then lost it back in 1069 when the Diocese of Tui was re-established.

Finally, in 1095, Pope Urban II officially moved the bishopric entirely from Iria to Compostela. This was done out of respect for the body and tomb of Saint James. At the same time, the Pope made the Compostela bishopric directly answerable to the Holy See (the Pope's authority), rather than to the metropolitan (archbishop) in Braga.

Around 1100, Diego Gelmírez, who was the bishop of Compostela, rebuilt the old cathedral church in Iria Flavia, Santa Maria Adina, which had been destroyed by Almanzor. Digs have shown that this church was built on top of old Roman foundations. A Roman votive figure (a gift offered to a god) of a bull was found there.

As the story of Saint James the Greater preaching in Spain became more popular, Iria Flavia came to be known as the very first place he preached.

Bishops of Iria Flavia

Here is a list of some of the bishops who served in Iria Flavia:

• Andrew (561 – 572)
• Dominicus (589)
• Samuel (633)
• Gotomar (638 – 646)
• Vincibilis (653)
• Ildulfus Felix (675 – 688)
• Selva (694 – 702/3)
• Theodesind (709)
• Emila (718–737)
• Roman (757–768)
• Agustine (during Fruela I's reign)
• Honoratus (during Fruela I's reign)
• Vincele (768–774)
• Cresconius I (774–783)
• Vaula (783–789)
• Quendulf (c. 790–818)
• Theodemar (c. 818 – 847), who found the tomb of Saint James in 830
• Ataulf I (c. 847 – c. 851)
• Ataulf II (c. 851 – c. 867)
• Sisenand I (877/79 – 919/20)
• Gundesindo Alóitez (920? – 924)
• Hermenegild (924–951)
• Sisenand II (951/52 – 958/968)
• Rudesind (acting bishop 970–977)
• Pelayo Rodríguez (977 – resigned 985)
• Pedro de Mezonzo (Peter I) (985/86 – 1003?)
• Pelayo Díaz (1003? – 1011)
• Vimara Díaz (1011 – 1013?)
• Vistruarius (1014/16 – 1032/36)
• Cresconius II (1037/48 – 1066)
• Gudesteus (1066/67 – 1069/70)
• Diego Peláez (1071/75 – 1088, and again 1090–1094)
• Peter II (1088–1090)
• Dalmatius (1094–1095), the first bishop of the Latin rite

Iria Flavia Today: A Titular See

In 1969, the diocese of Iria Flavia was brought back, but only in name. It is now a Titular bishopric, meaning it doesn't have a real territory or people to serve, but it's used to give a title to a bishop.

So far, only one bishop has held this title:

• Ernst Franz Gerd Werner Dicke (1970.02.16 – ...), who served as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen in Germany.

See also

In Spanish: Iria Flavia para niños