Citharizum

Roman-Persian Frontier in Late Antiquity. The Roman fortress is designated as "Citharizum".

Citharizum (from Greek: Κιθαριξων) was a town and fortress on the south arm of the Euphrates[1] in the Roman province of Armenia III.

According to Procopius of Caesarea the city was located in the Asthianene region.[2] The fortress was separated from Theodosiopolis by a journey of four days.[3] Balabitene, a region between Masius and Anti-Taurus, north of Commagene and Mesopotamia is also discussed as a possible location. Citharizum is identified with the modern village of Keteriz.[4][5][6]

Although only a small town, it was an important point of defence for the Byzantine Empire against the Persians, and Justinian built a castle there, in which he stationed a garrison under the command of a duke.[4][7][8] In 613, it was taken by Ashot, a general of the Persian king, Chosroes II.[4]

Bishopric

The only diocesan bishop of the see whose name is recorded is Marcian, who attended the Trullan Council of 692.[4][7][9][10]

No longer a residential bishopric, Citharizum is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.[11]

References

  1. ↑ The Classical Gazetteer
  2. ↑ Procopius Buildings Book III, uchicago.edu
  3. ↑ Procopius, History of the Wars Book II, Chapter XXIII, en.wikisource.org
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sophrone Pétridès, "Citharizum" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 1908)
  5. ↑ Titular Episcopal See of Citharizum, gcatholic.org
  6. ↑ Others identify ancient Kitharizon with the present-day location Yeni Köy. Map 89 Armenia, princeton.edu
  7. 1 2 Raymond Janin, v. Citharizum, in Dictionnaire d'Histoire et de Géographie ecclésiastiques, vol. XII, Parigi 1953, col. 997
  8. ↑ Antoine-Augustin Bruzen de La Martinière, Le Grand dictionnaire géographique, historique et critique (1768), p. 436
  9. ↑ Pius Bonifacius Gams, Series episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Leipzig 1931, p. 441
  10. ↑ Michel Lequien, Oriens christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus, Paris 1740, Vol. I, coll. 453-454
  11. ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 871
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