Patriarchatus Gradensis

Pope Pelagius II confirms Grado as the new metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province of Venetia et Histria (11^th-century forgery).

The acts of the synod of Grado, heavily interpolated by later falsifications, by which the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Aquileia remain faithful to the Catholic creed as decreed by the Ecumenical Councils of Chalcedon (451), Ephesus (431), Constantinople I (381) and Nicaea (325), refusing to denounce the Three Chapters condemned by the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (552).

Following the death of Aquileian patriarch Severus, two new patriarchs are ordained: John, supported by the Lombards and with his seat in Aquileia; and Candidianus, supported by the Romans (Byzantines) with his seat in Grado - the definitive and official split of the patriarchate of Aquileia into two patriarchal sees (narrative account from Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards).

Patriarch John of Aquileia writes to Lombard King Agilulf, complaining that the ill-ordained Candidianus was consecrated as the bishop of Grado by the three Istrian bishops who were violently forced to do so by the “Greeks” (the Romans, that is, the Byzantines), and he beseeches the king not to allow such consecrations to continue following Candidianus' death.

Pope Honorius incites all the bishops of the ecclesiastical province Venetia et Histria to profess disobedience to the deposed patriarch Fortunatus of Grado and to accept subdeacon Primogenius, to whom the pope had already sent the pallium, as their new lawful head of the ecclesiastical province; moreover, the pope promises to open diplomatic negotiations with the Lombard king, with whom the deposed Fortunatus sought refuge, with the goal of restoring all the ecclesiastical goods stolen by the said Fortunatus.

Pope Gregory II writes to Aquileian patriarch Serenus, reminding him that he received the pallium at the behest of the Lombard king and that he ought to exercise his ecclesiastical rights within the confines of Lombard territories, not interfering with the jurisdictions of the Patriarchate of Grado.

Pope Gregory II writes to Donatus, the patriarch of Grado, to Duke Marcellus of Venice, and to the clergy and populace of Venetia et Histria, informing them that he has heard their lamentations regarding the actions of the “Friulian bishop” (the patriarch of Aquileia) and that he has undertaken appropriate measures, ordering the invaders to remain within the confines of their jurisdictions.

Pope Gregory II writes to the bishops and populace of Venice and Istria, notifying them that Peter, the former bishop of Pula who usurped the Patriarchate of Grado following the death of Patriarch Donato, has been removed and returned to his See in Pula and that the bishops ought to elect a new head of the church of Grado.

Pope Gregory III writes to archbishop Anthony of Grado and to his suffragans, inviting them to the church synod to be held in Rome in the coming November where the issue of icon veneration will be discussed.

Acts of the 731 Synod of Rome whereby the division between the Patriarchate of Grado and the “Bishopric of Friuli” (Patriarchate of Aquileia) is sanctioned, officially confirming Grado as “New Aquileia” and the metropolitan see of the entire ecclesiastical province of Venetia et Histria; 11^th-century forgery.

Pope Gregory III orders Callistus, the patriarch of Aquileia who has received the pallium from the pope, to restitute Centenara and Musione, the possessions of the monastery of St. Mary in Barbana subject to the Patriarchate of Grado.

Pope Gregory III writes to Patriarch Anthony of Grado, inviting him and his suffragans to a synod that is to take place in Rome and assuring him of safe passage through Lombard lands.

Patriarch John of Grado writes to Pope Stephan III, lamenting over the Lombard treatment of his subjects in Istria, the newly imposed levies, and the diminishing influence of his metropolitan see, asking the pope to send aid to Istria and reinforce the jurisdiction of his church to the detriment of the “perfidious Lombards”.

Pope Stephan III writes to all the bishops of Istria, reprimanding their insolence for consecrating each other, reminding them that they fall under the metropolitan jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Grado, and threatening the bishops who fail to heed these warnings with excommunication.

Pope Stephan III writes to Patriarch John of Grado, reassuring him that he has the support of the Apostolic See in his struggles against the Lombards in Istria, reminding him that Istria is under the joint protection of the papacy and the Franks, and informing him that he has dealt with the Istrian bishops who refuse to recognize him as their metropolitan and who uncanonically appoint each other to their episcopal sees.

Pope Leo III confers the pallium upon Fortunatus II, the incumbent patriarch of Grado.

Emperor Charlemagne bestows immunities upon the Church of Grado due to the special services and merits of its incumbent Patriarch Fortunatus II.

Emperor Charlemagne exempts the four ships of Fortunatus II, "the patriarch of the Venetians and Istrians," from all the tolls.

The Plea of Rižana (Placitum Rizianense): The representatives of Istrian towns and cities present their grievances to counts Aio and Cadulus, the envoys of the Roman emperor Charlesmagne, in an official placitum held by the river Rižana in the district of Koper.

Pope Leo III writes to Emperor Charlemagne regarding the situation of Fortunatus, the patriarch of Grado who had been exiled from his see by the Venetians and "the Greeks". The pope agrees that the Church of Pula should be bestowed upon Patriarch Fortunatus as his new seat.

Emperor Louis the Pious informs Patriarch Fortunatus II of Grado and the faithful of the province of Istria that, at their request, he confirms the free election of the patriarch, bishops, abbots, tribunes and other authorities, that in the event of breach of faith, quarrels and oppression of the poor, the legal judgment awaits them and that violators of the Placitum of Rižana (doc. 804_PR) will be subject to the prescribed penance.

Emperor Louis the Pious and his son Lothar write to Venerius, the patriarch of Grado, confirming the possessions of his Church, including the Patriarchate's jurisdictions in Istria.

Louis the Pious and his son Lothar instruct Patriarch Venerius of Grado to go to Rome again to settle his dispute with the Patriarch Maxentius of Aquileia before the Pope and their messengers, despite the fact that Maxentius failed to attend the first meeting, causing Venerius to return home without any resolution.

The decrees of the Synod of Mantua: the long conflict between the patriarchs of Grado and Aquileia over the metropolitan jurisdiction over Istrian bishoprics is settled in favor of the Aquileian Church.

Patriarch Venerius writes to Pope Gregory IV, imploring his assistance in resolving disputes regarding the metropolitan jurisdiction over Istrian bishoprics, granted by the Synod of Mantua (doc. 827_SM) to his adversary Maxentius, the patriarch of Aquileia, and expressing confidence in the Pope’s judgment and authority.