Roman Catholic Diocese of Teramo-Atri

Teramo Cathedral.

The diocese of Teramo-Atri is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Abruzzo, central Italy. It was created in 1949, when the historic diocese of Teramo was combined with the diocese of Penne-Atri, in the Abruzzo. It is suffragan of the archdiocese of Pescara-Penne.^[1]

History

After the invasion of Italy by the Lombards, Teramo became the residence of a gastald, depending on the Duke of Spoleto; under the Franks it was annexed by the Normans. In 1155 Count Robert of Loritello rebelled against King Roger II of Sicily and destroyed the city, soon rebuilt through the efforts of Bishop Guido (1122), for which he and his successors were granted the investiture of the principality. Probably at this time arose the custom of the bishops of Teramo of pontificating armed and having arms also on the altar. Hardly had the town risen again when it began a series of quarrels with Ascoli, which more than once threatened to become sanguinary. Teramo resisted till the end of 1270 during the Angevin invasion. A little later the bishops abandoned their temporal sovereignty and a royal captain was installed.

In the beginning of the 15th century the Melatino, di Janni, and Acquaviva began to struggle for possession of the town. In 1416 it was sacked by Lordino, a Frenchman, exasperated by being deprived of the title of high constable of the kingdom; during the pillage the treasures of the cathedral disappeared.

In 1818 the Diocese of Ortona, which is now only an archipresbyteral church, was incorporated with the See of Teramo.

References

• Cappelletti, Le chiese d'Italia, XXI
• Palma, Storia ecclesiastica e civile .. di Teramo (Teramo, 1852-6)

Notes

1. ^ Catholic Hierarchy page

External links

• Source

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