Aïn El Kebira


Aïn El Kebira is a city located 27 km north far from Sétif. As Ancient Satafis it was a bishopric, which remains a Catholic titular see.
Ain El Kebira is a daïra in the Algerian regional classification.

History

The Romans of Djémila used it for entering their dead. Ancient city Satafis was important enough under Roman rule to become a suffragan bishopric in the Roman province of Mauretania Sitifensis.
Inscriptions testify to Christian community cristiana since the early 4th century, including the tomb of local priest Securus.
Four historically documented bishops are attributed to this see :
It faded like most in Roman Africa, presumably at the 7th century advent of Islam.
The modern city was created in the French colonial time under the name of Périgotville.
Its present name "Ain El Kebira" means "the big fountain" in Arabic.

Titular see

The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as titular bishopric of Satafis / Satafen in Mauretania Sitifensi.
It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal rank :