Roman Catholic Diocese of Scala

Diocese of Scala
Scala (adjective: Scalensis)
Scala

Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, current titular archbishop
Location
Ecclesiastical province Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de' Tirreni
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Established 987 AD (suppressed on 27 June 1818)
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Titular Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams
Scala viewed from Ravello.
Styles of
Edward Joseph Adams
Reference style His Excellency
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Titular Archbishop of Scala

The Diocese of Scala is a bishopric centred on Scala in Italy. No longer a residential see, it is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.[1][2][3] It was established as a diocese in 987. On 31 July 1603 it was merged aeque principaliter with the diocese of Ravello. On 27 June 1818 the Diocese of Scala was suppressed by Pope Pius VII's bull De utiliori and all its territories were incorporated into the archdiocese of Amalfi (now the Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de' Tirreni). It is now the seat of a titular archbishopric, currently held by ArchbishopEdward Joseph Adams, Apostolic Nuncio to Greece.

History

Scala is the oldest town of the Amalfi coast, set about 400 meters above sea level. According to tradition it was founded in the 4th century AD by a group of shipwrecked Romans trying to make their way to Constantinople. A fortified bulwark, Scala was part of the defensive system of the territory of Amalfi. Its history is closely related to that of the Marine Republic of Amalfi. It was a bishopric from 987 to 1818. In 1073, after a strong siege, it was burned by Robert Guiscard. Soon after, it was sacked by the Pisans, by Ottone Brunswich (1210), and by the Sicilians (1283).[4]

With more than a thousand-year history, Scala (during the height of its economic splendor) had about 130 churches. It is also noted as the birthplace of Gerardo de Saxo, the founder of the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, or the Knights Hospitaller.[5]

The former cathedral

The cathedral of the diocese, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, was built in its original form during the 12th century in Romanesque style. It was modified in the 17th and 18th centuries, preserving of the original structure only the portal. The interior is in the form of a nave and two aisles, with high-quality stuccoes and an admirable vault decorated with scenes from the Saint's life (1748).[6]

In the Gothic-style crypt is the colored stucco sarcophagus of Marinella Rufolo with a group of 14th-century wooden statues and other sculptures carved her widower Antonio Coppola in 1332.[7]

List of holders

Diocesan bishops

Titular bishops

References

  1. ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 965
  2. ↑ "Diocese of Scala Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016
  3. ↑ "Titular Episcopal See of Scala" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016
  4. ↑ http://www.amalficoast.com/paesi/scala-14.aspx
  5. ↑ http://www.amalficoast.com/paesi/scala-14.aspx
  6. ↑ http://www.amalficoast.com/paesi/scala-14.aspx
  7. ↑ http://www.amalficoast.com/paesi/scala-14.aspx
  8. ↑ "Archbishop Gaspare Ricciullo del Fosso, O.M." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved October 17, 2016
  9. ↑ "Archbishop Gaspare Ricciullo Del Fosso, O.M." GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved October 7, 2016
  10. ↑ "Bishop Francesco D’Afflitto" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 21, 2016
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