Collectio canonum Hibernensis

Folio 15v of 8th-century manuscript 210 of the library at Cologne Cathedral, showing the first chapter of the second book titled De nomine prespiteri at the initial P

abbey Molana

abbey Iona

location of the irish abbeys, where the Hibernensis was made

The Collectio canonum Hibernensis (English: Irish Collection of Canon law) (or CCH) is a systematic Latin collection of canon law, scriptural and patristic excerpts, and Irish synodal and penitential decrees. The CCH is thought to have been compiled by two Irish scholars working in the 8th century, Cú Chuimne of Iona (died 747) and Ruben of Dairinis (died 725).

Subjects

The CCH was the first canon law collection in Europe which organized its material by subject. It was not until the 12th century that Gratian created another such collection. Of course, the CCH is primarily dedicated to Canons important in Ireland and gives an important place to synods which took place in Ireland.

The CCH includes not only Canon Law regarding the church, but there are also a number of provision about secular legal matters such as contracts, oaths, and sureties, as well as general information about the shape of the law.

The CCH was not the only form of law available in medieval Ireland. A secular law, more commonly known as the Brehon Laws, existed and is often at variance with the CCH, although perhaps more surprising is their tendency to overlap.

Sources for the Collection Canonum Hibernensis

The CCH was an attempt to make available diverse authorities for use by Canon Jurists. Among the sources included are:

• ecclesiastical histories
• a definition by Virgil Maro Grammaticus
• a compusticial tract by Pseudo-Theophilus
• spurious 'Acts' of the council of Caesarea
• several quotes from all but one of the works of Isidore of Seville
• so-called dicta of Saint Patrick.

Sources

• "Hiberno-Latin Literature to 1169", Dáibhí Ó Crónín, "A New History of Ireland", volume one, 2005.
• Die irische Kanonensammlung, ed. Hermann Wasserschleben, Leipzig, 1885.
• Some seventh-century Hiberno-Latin texts and their relationships, Aidan Breen, Peritia, iii, pp. 204-14, 1984.
• R. Flechner, "Libelli et commentarii aliorum: The Hibernensis and the Breton Bishops", in K. Ritari and A. Bergholm, eds., Approaches to Religion and Mythology in Celtic Studies, Cambridge 2008, pp. 100–119 (רואי פלכנר).