Peter of Onesti
PETER OF ONESTI
Founder and superior of an establishment of regular canons at the church of S. Maria in Portu on the isle of Isola adjoining Ravenna (known also as de Honestis); b. mid-11th century; d. Ravenna, 1118–19. At the request of Peter, Pope Paschal II confirmed his rule Dec. 21, 1116. Mercati denied the authenticity of Peter's letter and questioned the papal confirmation. He maintained that the rule was not composed by Peter, but was already in existence between 1025 and 1050. Whether it was Peter's or not, the rule adopted at S. Maria in Portu obtained a wide diffusion, and the church became regarded as the head of its own congregation with associated foundations in many Italian cities and in Germany. Writers of the 14th and 15th centuries frequently confused Peter of Onesti with St. peter damian.
Bibliography: Text of the rule in e. amort, Vetus disciplina canonicorum, 2 v. (Venice 1747) 1:339 ff., and Patrologia Latina, ed. j. p. migne, 271 v., indexes 4 v. (Paris 1878–90) 163:703–748. g. mercati's criticisms in his "Pietro Peccatore," Studi e documenti di storia e diritto, 16 (1895) 3–47, reprinted in Opere minori, v. 1, Studi e Testi 76 (1937) 170–201. p. f. kehr, Regesta Pontificum Romanorum. Italia Pontificia, 8 v. (Berlin 1906–35) 5:96–97.
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