Sappa
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic diocese of Sapë is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
in Albania
. The seat of the diocese is in the village of Vau-Dejës
, District of Shkodër.
The diocese is one of six located in Albania. It is located in the vicinity of Lake Scutari
, at the river basin of Drin.
The diocese is named after the town of Sapë
(Sappa), which is located near the Drin, southeast of Lake Scutari.
. During the 11th century, the diocese was located within Dioclea
. In 1491 Pope Innocent VIII
joined to it the Bishopric of Sardë (Sardoniki), and the united sees were suffragans of the Archbishopric of Antivari until the end of the eighteenth century.
The See of Sardë comprised also the Diocese of Dagnum (Daynum, Dagno, Danj; Daynensis), founded as suffragan of Antivari during the second half of the fourteenth century and united with Sarda by Pope Martin V
in 1428. By the Albanian Council in 1703, the Bishop of Sappa obtained some parishes previously pertaining to the Diocese of Pulati.
The exact number of bishops of Sappa is unknown. The first Bishop of Sappa mentioned is Paulus
about 1370. Notable bishops of Sappa includer Gjergj Bardhi
, and Lazër Vladanji
later Archbishop of Bar
.
In the early 20th century the forty-first bishop of Sappa was Mgr. Jak Serreqi, suffragan of Scutari, who resided at the village of Nënshat (Nensciati). His diocese comprised about 22,000 inhabitants of various creeds, of whom 17,280 are Catholics. The ecclesiastical students of this diocese are educated at the seminary of Scutari. The Diocese of Sappa also includes the Franciscan
monastery at Troshan (Trosciani), where the Minorites have a "Collegium seraphicum" for their students of philosophy.
Diocese ceased to function for 50 years for unknown reasons
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholicism in Albania
The Roman Catholic Church in Albania is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.Around 16.8%-17% of the population of Albania is Catholic — the second biggest religious denomination after Islam. More than 100,000 Albanian Catholics are...
in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The seat of the diocese is in the village of Vau-Dejës
Vau-Dejës
Vau i Dejës is a municipality in the Shkodër District, Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. Located in the norther region of Zadrima, Vau i Dejes is intersected by the River Drin and Gjadri. It is also strategically about 41 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea...
, District of Shkodër.
The diocese is one of six located in Albania. It is located in the vicinity of Lake Scutari
Lake Scutari
Lake Skadar, also called Lake Scutari and Lake Shkodër is a lake on the border of Montenegro with Albania, the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. It is named after the city of Shkodra in northern Albania .- Geography :...
, at the river basin of Drin.
The diocese is named after the town of Sapë
Sape
Sape is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae.-References:*...
(Sappa), which is located near the Drin, southeast of Lake Scutari.
Ecclesiastical History
The bishorpic was established in 1062, by Pope Alexander IIPope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II , born Anselmo da Baggio, was Pope from 1061 to 1073.He was born in Milan. As bishop of Lucca he had been an energetic coadjutor with Hildebrand of Sovana in endeavouring to suppress simony, and to enforce the celibacy of the clergy...
. During the 11th century, the diocese was located within Dioclea
Duklja
Doclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
. In 1491 Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...
joined to it the Bishopric of Sardë (Sardoniki), and the united sees were suffragans of the Archbishopric of Antivari until the end of the eighteenth century.
The See of Sardë comprised also the Diocese of Dagnum (Daynum, Dagno, Danj; Daynensis), founded as suffragan of Antivari during the second half of the fourteenth century and united with Sarda by Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
in 1428. By the Albanian Council in 1703, the Bishop of Sappa obtained some parishes previously pertaining to the Diocese of Pulati.
The exact number of bishops of Sappa is unknown. The first Bishop of Sappa mentioned is Paulus
Paulus
- Roman and Byzantine empire :*Paul or Julius Paulus , Roman jurist*Paulus Catena , Roman notary*Lucius Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus , Roman general*Paulus , short-time ruler over the Domain of Soissons...
about 1370. Notable bishops of Sappa includer Gjergj Bardhi
Gjergj Bardhi
Gjergj Bardhi was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Gjergj Bardhi was born in region of Zadrima, modern northern Albania in 1575. His family included several notable figures of Albanian history like Frang Bardhi, writer of the early eras of Albanian literature.In 1621 he became...
, and Lazër Vladanji
Lazër Vladanji
Lazër Vladanji was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Lazër Vladanji was born in Shkodër, modern northern Albania in 1706 to a family, many members of which had become prelates of the Roman Catholic Church. From 1746 to 1749 he was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sapë,...
later Archbishop of Bar
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Montenegro. It is centred in the city of Bar . It was erected as a diocese in the 9th century and elevated to an archdiocese in 1089...
.
In the early 20th century the forty-first bishop of Sappa was Mgr. Jak Serreqi, suffragan of Scutari, who resided at the village of Nënshat (Nensciati). His diocese comprised about 22,000 inhabitants of various creeds, of whom 17,280 are Catholics. The ecclesiastical students of this diocese are educated at the seminary of Scutari. The Diocese of Sappa also includes the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery at Troshan (Trosciani), where the Minorites have a "Collegium seraphicum" for their students of philosophy.
Bishops
- Peter I (11 June 1291 - ????)
- Paul (ca. 1370 - ????)
- Benevenuli (1376 - ????)
- Peter II (Pjetër ZakariaPjetër ZakariaPjetër Zakaria was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Pjetër Zakaria was born in the mid 14th century in northern Albania. He came from the noble Albanian family of Zaharia. Most historians attribute the establishment of relations between Pope Boniface IX and the Zakaria family to him...
) (1396 - ????) - Nicholas I (1414 - ????)
- Michael (March 1422 - ????)
- Peter III (1425 - ????)
- Peter IV (1431 - ????)
- Matthew (Mateo/Mateu Hermollaji) (1433 - ????)
- George I (1440 - 1451)
- Emmanuel (1460 - ????)
- Anonymous (1472 - ????)
- Marinus I (Marin Suma) (1473 - ????)
- Gabriel I (1479 - ????)
- Blasius (1489 - 1490)
- Prodokimi (January 1490 - 1500)
- Peter V (Pjetër Stërbinja) (1501 - 1507)
- Dominic (Domingo García) (5 July 1508 - ????)
- Ambrosius (Ambrosius Montemini) (1512 - ????)
- George III (1513 - ????)
- Didak Fernandez (1514 - ????)
- John I (Juan Buenaventura de Valderrama) (3 September 1518 - 1820)
- Alphonse (Alfons Kavaçiri) (1521 - ????)
Diocese ceased to function for 50 years for unknown reasons
- Theobald (Tossoli Blanco) (1582 - ????)
- George IV (Gjergj Palma) (1583 - ????)
- Nicholas II (Nikollë BardhiNikollë BardhiNikollë Bardhi was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Nikollë Bardhi was born in region of Zadrima, Lezhë, modern northern Albania in 1551. His family included several notable figures of Albanian history like Frang Bardhi, writer of the early eras of Albanian literature and the...
) (1594 - ????) - Simon I (Simon Gjeçi/Jeçi) (1620 - 1621)
- Peter VI (Pjetër BudiPjetër BudiPjetër Budi , known in Italian as Pietro Budi, was a bishop of Sapë and the author of four religious works in Albanian. He is a noted and respected figure of Albanian cultural history...
) (20 July 1621 - ????) - George IV (Gjergj BardhiGjergj BardhiGjergj Bardhi was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Gjergj Bardhi was born in region of Zadrima, modern northern Albania in 1575. His family included several notable figures of Albanian history like Frang Bardhi, writer of the early eras of Albanian literature.In 1621 he became...
) (1623 - 1635) - Francis (Frang BardhiFrang BardhiFrang Bardhi was an Albanian bishop and author of the early eras of Albanian literature.-Life:He was born in Kallmet or Nënshat in the northern Albanian Zadrima region near Lezhë...
) (1365 - ????) - George IV (Gjergj BardhiGjergj BardhiGjergj Bardhi was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Gjergj Bardhi was born in region of Zadrima, modern northern Albania in 1575. His family included several notable figures of Albanian history like Frang Bardhi, writer of the early eras of Albanian literature.In 1621 he became...
) (1644 - 1646) - Simon II (Simeoni Suma) (1647 - 1670s)
- Stephen (Shtjefën Gaspari) (1675 - ????)
- Martin (Martin Jelić) (1682 - ????)
- George V (Gjergj Teodori) (1685 - 1705)
- Egidius (Egidio QuintoEgidio QuintoEgidio Quinto served as an Archbishop of Antivari in the early 18th century.Quinto was appointed Bishop of Sappa on 21 March 1707. He was later appointed as Archbishop of Antivari by Pope Clement XI on 8 February 1719....
) (21 March 1707 - 8 February 1719) - Marinus II (Marin Gjini) (1719 - ????)
- John II (Gjon Gallata) (1720 - ????)
- Basil (Vasil Lindi) (1738 - 1744)
- Lazarus I (Lazër VladanjiLazër VladanjiLazër Vladanji was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Lazër Vladanji was born in Shkodër, modern northern Albania in 1706 to a family, many members of which had become prelates of the Roman Catholic Church. From 1746 to 1749 he was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sapë,...
) (1746 - 1749) - George (Gjergj VladanjiGjergj VladanjiGjergj Vladanji was an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Gjergj Vladanji was born in Shkodër, modern northern Albania in 1712 to a family, many members of which had become prelates of the Roman Catholic Church...
) (1750 - 1765) - Nicholas III (25 August 1765 - 1791)
- John III (Gjon Logoreci) (2 April 1791 - 21 December 1794)
- Anthony (Anton/Ndoc Radovani) (1796 - ????)
- Marcus (Mark Negri) (1808 - ????)
- Alexander (Lekë Suma) (24 December 1825 - ????)
- Lazarus I (Lazër Vladanji) (1827 - 15 February 1830)
- Peter VII (Pjetër Borçi) (18 December 1829/13 February 1836) - ????)
- George VII (Gjergj Labella) (1844 - ????)
- Peter VIII (Pietro Severini) (26 November 1843/1 February 1845 - 7 November 1873)
- Julius (Giulio Marsili) (December 1873 - 12 August 1890)
- Lawrence (Lorenzo Petris de Dolammare) (5 August 1890 - 20 December 1892)
- Gabriel II (Gabriel Nev(r)iani) (10 January 1893 - 28 March 1900)
- Lazarus II (Lazër Mjeda) (10 November 1900 - 24 December 1904)
- Jacob (Jak(ë) Serreqi) (7 August/29 October 1905 - 14 April/22 April 1910)
- George VI (Gjergj Koleci) (21 September 1911 - 2 January 1928)
- Gaspar (Gaspër Thaçi) (1928 - ca. 13 June 1928) - Apostolic Administrator
- Joseph (Zef Gjonali) (13 June/25 July 1928 - 9 October/30 October 1935)
- Nicholas IV (Nikollë Vinçenc Prenushi) (27 January/6 February 1936 - 26 June 1940)
- George VIII (Gjergj Volaj) (25 May/26 June 1940 - February 1947/3 February 1948)
- John IV (Gjon Kovaçi) (June 1950 - ????)
- Francis II (Frano Illia) (25 April 1993 - 1997) - Apostolic Administrator
- Angel (Angelo Massafra) (1997 - ca. 2000) - Apostolic Administrator
- Dodë GjergjiDodë GjergjiDodë Gjergji is a Kosovar prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Currently he is the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prizren....
(6 January 2000 - 12 December 2006) - Apostolic Administrator - Lucian (Lucjan AvgustiniLucjan AvgustiniLucjan Avgustini is an Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Currently he is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sapë.Lucjan Avgustini was born on in Ferizaj, SFR Yugoslavia...
) (12 December 2006 - Present )