2406

Mar. 21 1127 - Aug. 22 1241. Pope Gregory IX confirms the privileges of the episcopus et fratres Montis Sinai, living under the Basilian Rule, granted by Pope Honorius III. He takes the monastery of Mt Sinai under papal protection, confirming its possessions. He specifies Mt Sinai and the monastery of St Mary at its foot; the places [loca] called Roboe, Fucra, Luach and Rayton with its palm trees and lands; in the city of Egypt [Cairo] houses and a casale outside the city; 10 miliaria terrae next to the Red Sea; Faran with lands and palm trees; in Alexandria the obedientia Sancti Michaelis and freedom [of movement] by sea or land; vineyards and olive groves in the Vallis Moysi; houses, mills, vineyards and olive groves at Mons Regalis; houses, vineyards and olive groves at Croce Montis Regalis; a hospital [hospitale] and the obedientia Sancti Moysi, houses and an oven in the city of Jerusalem; houses and lands at Jaffa; the obedientia Sanctae Catarinae in Acre; the church of St George and houses in Damascus, and outside the city 3 virgulta; the hospitale Sancti Demetrii and 3 casalia with villani at Latakia; houses, lands and vineyards in the place called Odaue-rose; houses and an oven at Antioch; on the island of Cyprus houses, other estates and a [rent] of 1 libra aura from the revenues of the comercium. Gregory also lists possessions in Constantinople and on Crete. He grants freedom from tithes on the church’s lands acquired before the Fourth Lateran Council and on noval lands. Stressing that [lay] rights to ecclesiastical benefices or cemeteries are uncanonical, he nevertheless permits those already held to remain with the bishop’s licence. He confirms the canonical election of the bishop. He allows the bishop to absolve those excommunicated or under interdicts.