RIMINI, Diocese of. - It is bounded on the east by the Foglia, on the west by the Rubicon. It has 228 secular priests, 48 religious, 136 parishes, 2 of which and one curacy are in the territory of the Republic of San Marino. The city is situated at the extreme end of the Via Flaminia and at the beginning of the Via Emilia.
The Church of Rimini has ancient origins. In 313 one of its bishops, Stemnius, is in Rome (Optatus of Milevis). Prior to that date St. Gaudentius is probably to be placed, who according to an ancient tradition would have come from Ephesus to Rome and been sent by the Pope to R. as protobishop of this church; while another tradition holds him to be a contemporary of the Council. This represents one of the most important episodes of the Arian struggle in the West. The emperor Constantius, in order to settle the controversies according to his own designs, wished the Western episcopate to be assembled at R., and the Eastern at Seleucia. The bishops who found themselves gathered at R. in July 359, more than 400 in number, were in the majority faithful to the doctrine of Nicaea; Rome, however, was not represented there, while Restitutus of Carthage was; some eighty dissidents gathered separately and four of them were excommunicated as heretics. Each of the two parties sent a delegation to Constantius, who was in Thrace, and the Catholics, who would have nothing to do with the dogmatic formula proposed at Sirmium on 22 May, accommodated themselves to signing a new one, called that of Nicaea, on 10 October, which also pleased their adversaries. The Fathers of the Council, however, did not accept it and, in the end, overwhelmed by the threats and blandishments of Taurus, praetorian prefect, almost all allowed themselves to be induced to accept the formula already subscribed by their delegates; a formula which became, subsequently, the symbol of faith of the barbarians converted to Arianism.
Christian buildings, already presupposed by the very presence of the Council, are positively attested in the 5th century; an ecclesia beati Gaudentii between the 7th and 8th centuries; but of them nothing remains. The oldest churches that have come down to us, preserved at least in part, are extra-urban parish churches: the parish church of S. Giovanni in Compito, arising on the place indicated in the Jerusalem Itinerary as mutatio Competu, goes back in its present form to the 10th century, but has elements of the 7th century, when its vast jurisdiction is widely documented; the parish church of S. Michele in Acerbulis, near S. Arcangelo, is remembered in documents of the 9th century and in its present form does not go back beyond the year 1000: however, recent archaeological excavations make it much older; the parish church of Verucchio in San Marino territory, remembered in the 11th century under the title of S. Giovanni, to which later that of S. Martino was added, with very ancient architectural parts and important remains. The ancient Cathedral, dedicated to St. Columba virgin and martyr, after repeated damage and restorations was abandoned (1798) and demolished, and first S. Giovanni Ev. then the Tempio Malatestiano became cathedral. Of local martyrs there is no certain information. Saints who had their birth in the city or in the diocese: Paola of Roncofreddo (9th century), Arduino priest (10th century), Aldebrando (13th century); the blesseds Simone Balacchi (13th century), Giovanni Gueruli (13th-14th century), Gregorio Celli (14th century), Chiara of R. (1302-46), Amato Ronconi (13th-14th century), Galeotto Roberto Malatesta and Alessio of Riccione (15th century). St. Marinus and St. Leo, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua made their dwelling and carried out works of apostolate there. Among the sanctuaries are to be remembered: S. Chiara of R., in which is venerated the image of the B. V. of Mercy which in May 1850 miraculously moved its eyes and stirred up manifestations of faith in the multitudes that flocked from every side; B. V. delle Grazie of Fiumicino, Cella di Bonora, Madonna Sima of Montegridolfo, Crocifisso of Coriano, Beato Amato of Saludecio. The history of the Church of Rimini, after the Arian crisis, is not distinguished by extraordinary events, despite the fury of factions and political struggles which here, as in all Romagna, have raged in every age.
The Seminary goes back to shortly after the Council of Trent. Twenty-four diocesan synods have been celebrated, the last of which in 1924. R. was under the direct dependence of the Holy See; only in 1745 did it become a suffragan of Ravenna. The see of St. Gaudentius has been illustrated by pastors distinguished for piety, zeal and learning, many of whom have been elevated to the cardinalate and to metropolitan sees. Among the clergy have been distinguished the men of Rimini: Sebastiano Vanzi, learned canonist who was bishop of Orvieto and a definitor of the Council of Trent; Alessandro Tonti (1566-1622), cardinal and co-founder with St. Joseph Calasanz of the Nazarene College of Rome, Giuseppe Garampi (v.), Alessandro Serpieri (1823-85) distinguished scholar of physics and astronomy, the San Marino man Giovanni da Serravalle (1360-1445), bishop of Fermo, known above all as a commentator on the Divine Comedy, which he translated into Latin for the Fathers of the Council of Constance; the men of Santarcangelo: Lorenzo Ganganelli, later pope Clement XIV, Gaetano Marini (v.); the man of San Mauro P. A. Giorgi (1711-97), orientalist and philologist of clear fame; the men of Savignano: G. C. Amaduzzi (1740-92) who was the first secretary of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, in learned correspondence with the most illustrious men of the age; Luigi Nardi, librarian of the Gambalunghiana and author of erudite volumes of local history.
Among the churches of R., for historical-artistic value, are to be noted: S. Agostino, which arose in the 11th century under the title of S. Giovanni Ev. and passed in the 13th century to the Hermits of St. Augustine, whence its subsequent title; S. Giuliano, ancient Benedictine abbey entitled to the apostles Peter and Paul, with paintings relating to the Martyr of the same name; the church which was first of S. Maria in Trivio, then of S. Francesco and therefore universally known as the Tempio Malatestiano. The Second World War, which destroyed very notable sacred buildings, such as the oratory of S. Gerolamo and the church of the Madonna della Colonnella, also struck down the Malatestiano. This has however been completely and wisely restored and reconsecrated in the summer of 1950, the fifth anniversary of the ingenious remaking by L. B. Alberti, which remained moreover unfinished. - See plate XLIX.
Bibliography8 works
Angelo Scarpellini