Legal Definitions - eleemosynaria

Eleemosynaria is a historical legal term that refers to one of two related concepts within religious institutions:

• The designated physical space within a church, monastery, or other religious house where charitable donations (known as alms) were collected, stored, and prepared for distribution to the poor.
• The administrative position or official role of the almoner, who was the person specifically tasked with managing these alms and ensuring their proper distribution to those in need.

Here are some examples to illustrate the historical application of eleemosynaria:

• Example 1 (The Place): In a 13th-century Benedictine monastery, there was a small, secure room adjacent to the refectory where surplus food, donated clothing, and monetary contributions from wealthy patrons were regularly deposited. This specific room, dedicated to holding resources for the needy, would have been known as the eleemosynaria. This illustrates the term referring to the physical location where alms were gathered and kept.
• Example 2 (The Office): During the reign of King Henry VIII, a high-ranking cleric was appointed as the Royal Almoner. This individual's responsibilities included overseeing all royal charitable giving, managing the funds allocated for the poor, and ensuring that aid reached deserving recipients across the kingdom. The prestigious administrative role and duties held by this cleric constituted the eleemosynaria, representing the office of the almoner.
• Example 3 (Combined Context): Imagine a large medieval cathedral that maintained a specific chamber near its west door where parishioners could leave offerings of food and coin intended for the local impoverished population. A designated canon or monk was responsible for managing this chamber, organizing the donations, and distributing them daily. Both the physical chamber itself and the official duties performed by the canon in charge of these charitable efforts could historically be referred to as the eleemosynaria. This demonstrates how the term encompassed both the dedicated space and the function of charitable distribution within a religious setting.