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The Diocese of Coimbra is a Roman Catholic diocese in Coimbra, Portugal.^[1] It is a suffragen of the Archdiocese of Braga.^[2]

[edit] History

The first known bishop was Lucentius, who assisted (563) at the first council of Braga, the metropolitan See of Coimbra, until the latter was attached to the ecclesiastical province of Mérida (650-62). Titular bishops of Coimbra continued the succession under the Islamic conquest, one of whom witnessed the consecration of the church of Santiago de Compostela in 876. The see was re-established in 1088, after the re-conquest of the city of Coimbra by the Christian forces of Sesnando Davides (1064). The first bishop of the new series was Martin. Among the more famous bishops have been Pedro (1300), chancellor of King Diniz, and Manoel de Menezes (1573-78), rector of the University of Coimbra, who fell with King Sebastian on the field of Kassr-el-Kaber. The Old Cathedral of Coimbra, built in the first half of the 12th century, partly at the expense of Bishop Miguel and his chapter, is a remarkable monument of Romanesque architecture; the new cathedral, a Renaissance building dating from 1580, is other important monument. The episcopal palace was built in the 18th century. The principal monastery of the diocese is Santa Cruz Monastery, founded in 1131 by Afonso VII, and for some time the most important in the kingdom by reason of its wealth and privileges. Its prior was authorized by Anastasius IV and Celestine III to wear the episcopal insignia.

[edit] Academic Centre of Christian Democracy

The Academic Center of Christian Democracy is an association of Christian inspiration, belonging to the Diocese of Coimbra, which provides support to university students, who study in Coimbra. Notable members include António de Oliveira Salazar ^[3]

[edit] References