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Regionarius, pluralRegionarii, is the title given in later Antiquity and the earlyMiddle Ages to those clerics and officials of theChurch ofRome who were attached neither to thePapal Palace orpatriarchium, nor to thetitular churches of Rome, but to whom one of the city regions, or wards, was assigned as their official district.
For internal administration, the city of Rome was a divided by the EmperorAugustus into fourteen regions. An ecclesiastical division into seven regions developed from the fourth century, evidently in connection with the seven Romandeacons, that gradually replaced the earlier civil divisions. Many branches of the ecclesiastical administration were arranged in accordance with the seven regions — especially the care of the poor, the maintenance of the churches, and whatever else pertained primarily to the office of the deacons, one of whom was appointed over each of the seven regions (diaconus regionarius).
The deacons were assisted by sevensubdeacons, each asubdeaconus regionarius. Notaries anddefensores employed in the administration of the regions were also known asnotarii regionarii anddefensores regionarii. There is also occasional mention ofacolyti regionarii. Little is known about all their functions, as in general concerning the ecclesiastical administration in ancient Rome, in as far as it affected the regions.
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913)."Regionarii".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Regionarii".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
