*** Welcome to piglix ***

Archdiocese of Catania

Archdiocese of Catania
Archidioecesis Catanensis
Catania BW 2012-10-06 12-26-52.JPG
Cathedral in Catania
Location
Country Italy
Ecclesiastical province Catania
Coordinates 37°30′10″N 15°05′19″E / 37.502809°N 15.088604°E / 37.502809; 15.088604
Statistics
Area 1,332 km2 (514 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2013)
746,999
737,000 (est.) (98.7%)
Parishes 157
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Rite Roman Rite
Cathedral Basilica Cattedrale di S. Agata
Secular priests 237 (diocesan)
99 (Religious Orders)
41 Deacons
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Archbishop Salvatore Gristina
Emeritus Bishops Luigi Bommarito
Map
Arcidiocesi di Catania.png
Website
www.diocesi.catania.it

The archdiocese of Catania (Latin: Archidioecesis Catanensis) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastic territory in Sicily, southern Italy, with its seat in Catania. It was elevated to an archdiocese in 1859, and became a metropolitan see in 2000. Its suffragans are the diocese of Acireale and the diocese of Caltagirone.

According to legend, Christianity was first preached in Catania by St. Beryllus. During the persecution of Decius the virgin St. Agatha suffered martyrdom. At the same period or a little later the Bishop of Catania was Everus, who is mentioned in the acts of the martyrs of Leontini (303). This same year is marked by the martyrdom of the Deacon Euplius and others.

It is said that a Domninus (or Domnicius) was Bishop of Catania and was present at the Council of Ephesus (431); the Acts of the council, however, show that he was bishop of 'Coliaeum' (Cotyaeum, Cotyaion) in Phrygia, not bishop of Catania.

A genuine bishop, Fortunatus, was twice sent with Bishop Ennodius of Pavia by Pope Hormisdas to Emperor Anastasius I to effect the union of the Eastern Churches with Rome (514, 516). Bishops Leo and Junius appear in the correspondence of Gregory the Great. In 730 Bishop Jacobus (Giacomo) suffered martyrdom for his defence of images. In 750, or thereabouts, Sabino was Bishop of Catania. His successor, Saint Leo of Catania, also known as Leo of Ravenna, was known as a wonder-worker (thaumaturgus).


...
Wikipedia

...