Diocese of Teramo-Atri

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The Italian Catholic diocese of Teramo-Atri has existed since 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]

1 History
2 References
3 Notes
4 External link

[edit] History

After the Lomnbard invasions Teramo became the residence of a gastaldo, depending on the Duke of Spoleto; under the Franks it was annexed by the Normans. In 1155 Count Loretello rebelled against King Roger 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 fifteenth 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.

Bishop Opportunus was appointed 600.

Among its other prelates were:

St. Berardus (1115), descended from the family of the Counts dei Marsi;
Matteo de Balato (1251), captured during the inroad of the Ascolani and liberated through the intervention of Innocent IV;
Blessed Antonio Fatati (1450), counsellor of King Alfonso I;
Gian Antonio Campano (1463), a littérateur and poet;
Giacomo Silveri-Piccolomini (1553), at the Council of Trent;
Leonardo Cassiani (1693);
Michele Milella (1859), incarcerated by the government in 1861.

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