Processional liturgy in the urban space of seventh-century Tarragona

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Verona Orational, copied in Tarragona in the early eighth century, contains processional rubrics hinting at liturgical movement between churches on Carnes Tollendas Sunday at the beginning of Lent. The rubrics mention three places: Holy Jerusalem, Saint Fructuosus’s and Saint Peter’s. This essay examines the processional rubrics in tandem with the urban architecture of Visigothic Tarragona to place these processions as nearly as possible in their topographical context. We also consider the likely character of the chants sung during the processions, drawing both on the Verona Orational texts and the processional chants for Carnes Tollendas Sunday preserved in later manuscripts. This unique sonic and spatial experience signalled the beginning of Lent to the entire city, Christianizing the urban space.