This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Sufetula" see – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.Find sources: "Sufetula" see – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Map of Roman Africa Proconsularae show Sufetula.

The Catholic diocese of Sufetula was an ancient bishopric in the city of Sufetula, on the site of modern Tunisian Sbeitla, in the Roman province of Byzacena.

Background

Peutinger Table.

Sufetula, also known as Speitla, Sbeitla and Sufetula, is an archaeological site in Tunisia with well preserved ruins from the Roman Empire. Roman era Sufetula was a civitas (town) and border post on the limes Africana in the Roman province of Africa during the Roman Empire.[1][2]

The town was flourishing by 79AD and lasted to 647, when the town was sacked by Arab–Berber raiders.

Ancient Bishopric

Sufetula was also the seat of an ancient Christian bishopric. The bishopric was founded during the Roman Empire and survived through the Arian Vandal Kingdom and Orthodox Byzantine Empire, only ceasing to function with the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb.

Ancient churches

Church of Bellator
Basilica of Saint Servus

Ruins of Sufetula show that the town had at least six churches.[3]

Among these several appear to have been cathedra. The so-called Church of Servus is believed to have been the Donatist cathedral of Sufetula, while the church of Bellator was the Catholic, and later Orthodox, cathedral. The Basilica of Vitalis may have been the Arian Cathedral and dates from the 5th century.[4][5] The remains at Sufetula are important as they indicate that the various sects within Christianity built and kept their own places of worship, not being taken over by successive regimes.

Known bishops

Titular see

The diocese was nominally revived as a titular see of the lowest (episcopal) rank in 1914. It has had the following incumbents, mostly missionary members of congregations:

Source and external links

References

  1. ^ Ken and Nyetta's Blog
  2. ^ hiveminer.com/Tags/speitla/Interesting.
  3. ^ J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs (Eerdmans Publishing, 30 Nov. 2014) p. 148.
  4. ^ Sufetula (Sbeitla): Christian Monuments.
  5. ^ J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs (Eerdmans Publishing, 30 Nov. 2014) p. 148.
  6. ^ Thomas J. Heffernan, The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity (Oxford University Press, USA, 2012)p. 55.
  7. ^ J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen, Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs, p. 149 ff. Eerdmans 2014, ISBN 9780802869319 [1]
  8. ^ J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen, Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs, p. 149 ff. Eerdmans 2014, ISBN 9780802869319 [2]
  9. ^ Victor of Vita, History of the Vandal Persecution (Liverpool University Press, 1992)p. 40.
  10. ^ J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen, Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 30 Nov. 2014) p.155.
Categories