Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie


The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie is a Latin rite archbishopric in the administrative province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, in the southeastern Italian region of Apulia. In 1980 it became a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto, when it was demoted to non-Metropolitan status. It received its current name in 1986, when the Archbishopric of Trani added to its title the names of two suppressed bishoprics merged into it.

Special churches

The Archdiocese's archiepiscopal cathedral is Basilica Cattedrale di S. Nicola Pellegrino, a minor basilica, in Trani.
The Archdiocese also includes three Co-cathedrals, in the two bishoprics whose titles it adopted: they are Basilica Concattedrale di S. Maria Maggiore, located in Barletta, Basilica Concattedrale di S. Pietro Apostolo, in Bisceglie and Concattedrale di S. Maria di Nazareth, again in Barletta.
Furthermore, the archdiocese comprises another Minor Basilica: Basilica del San Sepolcro, in Barletta, and two Former Cathedrals: Chiesa San Giacomo Maggiore, in Barletta, and Ex cattedrale San Stefano, in Trinitapoli.

History

The legend of St. Magnus relates that there was at Trani about the middle of the third century a bishop, Redemptus, who was succeeded by St. Magnus. The legend is recent in origin, and its character is so fantastic that it is not to be believed.
The first bishop whose date is known with certainty is Eutychius, who was present at the dedication of the Basilica of Monte Gargano in 493.
Until the end of the tenth century Trani had certainly followed the Latin Rite, and Bishop Bernardo opposed the decree of the Patriarch Polyeuctes introducing the Greek Rite; it is uncertain whether Joannes, bishop of Trani, who embraced the schism of Michael Caerularius and in consequence was deposed by Pope Nicholas II, belonged to the Greek Rite. His successor was Delius, and thenceforward Trani continued in the Latin Rite.
In 1073 Trani fell into the hands of the Normans, and Count Pierre d'Hauteville became Count of Trani, though he was quickly put down by Robert Guiscard.
In 1098 Nicholas the Pilgrim, a Byzantine Christian, died there; under another Byzantine the new cathedral was dedicated to that saint. Bertrand II tried to arrange a Byzantine–Sicilian marriage alliance. Samarus was granted the lordship of the Jews of Trani by Emperor Henry VI for his support against Tancred. Bartolommeo Brancacci distinguished himself on several embassies and was chancellor of the Kingdom of Naples.
In 1455 the diocese of Cannae was united with that of Nazareth. Cannae was destroyed in 1083 by Robert Guiscard, with the exception of the cathedral and the episcopal residence. It had bishops in the sixth century, for Gregory the Great entrusted the see to the care of the bishop of Siponto; its bishops are again mentioned after the tenth century. In 1534 Cannae was separated from Nazareth and united to the diocese of Monteverde, but in 1552 the united dioceses were incorporated with Nazareth. In 1860 the See of Nazareth was united with Trani, the archbishop of which had been appointed in 1818 perpetual administrator of the see of Bisceglie.
With the See of Trani is united the ancient diocese of Salpe, its known bishops comprising Palladius and 23 successors before the definitive union in 1547. Another is the see of Carnia, which had bishops before the time Gregory, who entrusted it to the care of the Bishop of Reggio Calabria; in 649 it had a new ordinary, but later the city fell into decay.

Bishops and Archbishops

Diocese of Trani

Erected: 5th Century
Elevated: 11th Century
United with Diocese of Bisceglie: 27 June 1818
Name Changed: 22 September 1828
Latin Name: Tranensis et Barolensis
Name Changed: 21 April 1860
Latin Name: Archidioecesis Tranensis-Barolensis-Vigiliensis
Name Changed: 30 September 1986

Studies