Mission sui juris of I-li

History

• In 1320, the jurisdiction has been established as Diocese of Ili-baluc, alias Almaliq, alias Kuldja, on pagan territory split off from the Archdiocese of Khanbalik 汗八里, in the Great Khan's Mongol-Chinese capital; no incumbent available, but it was suppressed in 1330.
• Modern missions in the region, now known as Xinjiang, were mounted by the Scheutists from their neighboring Apostolic Vicariate of Kansu, under its authority.
• On 1 October 1888, the Ili see was restored, albeit demoted as lowest-ranking pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction: Mission sui juris of I-li 伊犁, alias Kuldja, alias Yining 伊寧.
• It was again suppressed on 8 March 1922 by Pius XI's papal brief Apostolatus officium, incorporating its territory in the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Kansu.

Ordinaries

• Daniel Bernard van Koot, C.I.C.M.
• Jan Baptist Steeneman, C.I.C.M.
• Joseph Hoogers, C.I.C.M., later Apostolic Prefect of Datongfu 大同府 .