Damiata (titular see)

Damiata^[1] is a Catholic and Melkite Greek titular see in Egypt. It corresponds to Damietta, in the Roman province of Augustamnica Prima.

Damietta is also, probably since the fifth century, a see for the Monophysite Copts; moreover, one of the non-Catholic Greek metropolitans subject to the Patriarch of Alexandria bears the title of Pelusium and Damietta. The site of ancient Damietta has also been placed by some historians at Esbeh el-Bordj, six miles from the modern town.

History

Damietta, first mentioned by Stephanus Byzantius, was situated at the mouth of the Phatnitic branch of the Nile, on the right bank; its prosperity seems to have coincided with the decline of its religious metropolis Pelusium. Only four bishops are known, from 431 to 879.

In June, 1249, it was recaptured by St. Louis, who transformed into a church the magnificent mosque El-Fatah and established there a Latin bishop, Gilles; but having been taken prisoner with his army, April, 1250, he was obliged to surrender Damietta as ransom. In 1251 the Sultan, hearing that Louis was preparing a new crusade, ordered the town and its citadel to be destroyed, except the mosque El-Fatah.

Notes

1. ^ Damietta, Greek Tamiathis, Arabic Doumiât.

External links

• Source
• Catholic Hierarchy page

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.