Sufetula (see)

The Catholic diocese of Sufetula was an ancient bishopric in the city of Sufetula, on the site of modern Tunisian Sbeitla, in the Roman province of Byzacena.

Map of Roman Africa Proconsularae show Sufetula.

Background
Peutinger Table.

Sufetula, also known as Speitla, Sbeitla and Sufetula, is an archaeological site in Tunisia with well preserved ruins from the Roman Empire. Roman era Sufetula was a civitas (town) and border post on the limes Africana in the Roman province of Africa during the Roman Empire.[1][2]

The town was flourishing by 79AD and lasted to 647 when the town was sacked by Arab, Berber raiders.

Ancient Bishopric

Sufetula was also the seat of an ancient Christian bishopric. The bishopric was founded during the Roman Empire and survived through the Arian Vandal Kingdom and Orthodox Byzantine Empire, only ceasing to function with the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb.

Ancient churches
Church of Bellator
Basilica of Saint Servus

Ruins of Sufetula show that the town had at least six churches.[3]

  • The church of Bellator
  • The chapel of Jucundus
  • The Basilica of Vitalis
  • The church of Servus
  • The Basilica of Saints Gervasius, Protasius and Tryphon
  • sixth century Basilica
  • The chapel of Bishop Honorius, outside the city.
  • Byzantine Chapel, largely unexcavated

Among these several appear to have been cathedra. The so-called Church of Servus is believed to have been the Donatist cathedral of Sufetula, while the church of Bellator, was the Catholic and latter Orthodox cathedral. The Basilica of Vitalis may have been the Arian Cathedral and dates from the 5th century.[4][5] The remains at Sufetula are important as they indicate that the various sects within Christianity built and kept their own places of worship, not being taken over by successive regimes.

Known bishops
  • Privatianus fl.256
  • Jucundus (Catholic) fl.411-419[6][7]
  • Titianus (Donatist fl.411
  • Amicacius (Catholic) early 5th century
  • Bellator (Catholic) early 5th century, built church that bears his name and associate of Jucundus.[8]
  • Paesidius (Arian) before 484, was sent into exile by king Huneric before the general purge of bishops[9]
  • Honorius (6th century) associated with the siege of Sufetula[10]

Titular see

The diocese was nominally revived, at least in name, as a titular see of the lowest (episcopal) rank in 1914. It has had the following incumbents, mostly missionary members of congregations :

References
  1. Ken and Nyetta's Blog
  2. hiveminer.com/Tags/speitla/Interesting.
  3. J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 30 Nov. 2014) p 148.
  4. Sufetula (Sbeitla): Christian Monuments .
  5. J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 30 Nov. 2014) p 148.
  6. Thomas J. Heffernan, The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity (Oxford University Press, USA, 2012)p 55.
  7. J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen, Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs, p. 149 ff. Eerdmans 2014, ISBN 9780802869319
  8. J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen, Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs, p. 149 ff. Eerdmans 2014, ISBN 9780802869319
  9. Victor of Vita, History of the Vandal Persecution (Liverpool University Press, 1992)p40.
  10. J. Patout Burns, Robin M. Jensen, Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 30 Nov. 2014) p.155.
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