Roman Catholic Diocese of Bisceglie


The Diocese of Bisceglie was a Roman Catholic diocese located in the town of Bisceglie on the Adriatic Sea in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia in southern Italy. It is five miles south of Trani.
In 1818, it was united with the Archdiocese of Trani to form the Archdiocese of Trani-Bisceglie.

History of the diocese

In 839, and again in 840, the territory of Bisciglie was attacked and devastated by the Saracens.
On 1 October 1071 Bishop Giovanni was present at the consecration of the church of the Monastery of Montecassino by Pope Alexander II.
In 1079, Robert Guiscard, who had taken the title of Duke of Apulia, met his vassals at Melfi. Count Pietro of Trani, who considered himself Guiscard's equal, did not attend. Guiscard therefore campaigned against Trani, Bisceglie, Giovennazo, Corato and Andria, and took prisoners.
The Cathedral of S. Peter was dedicated on 1 May 1295 by Bishop Leo with the assistance of seven other bishops. The Cathedral had a Chapter composed of seven dignities, sixteen Canons, and ten chaplains. In 1685 the Cathedral Chapter contained seven dignities and sixteen Canons. The dignities were: the Archdeacon, the Archpriest, two Primicerii, the Prior, the Dean, and the Penitentiary. In 1762 there were six dignities and twenty six Canons. The city of Bisceglie had c. 12,000 inhabitants, with three parish churches ; there were five houses of male religious and two monasteries of monks.
The diocese of Biceglie had two Collegiate Churches, S. Adoeno and Ss. Matteo e Niccolò. On 15 July 1818, Pope Pius VII, answering a petition from the Chapter of S. Adoeno, granted the Chapter the power to add to the number of choral chaplains.
There were eleven churches outside the city in the territory of the diocese of Bisceglie.

Bishops of the diocese of Bisceglie

Erected: 8th Century
Latin Name: Vigiliensis

Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Trani

to 1200

The Diocese of Bisceglie was united on 27 June 1818 with the Archdiocese of Trani to form the Archdiocese of Trani e Bisceglie

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