The Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia ( la, Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis, tr, Anadolu Havarisel VekilliÄŸi) is a
Roman Catholic Latin
apostolic vicariate in the eastern half of
Anatolia (Asian
Turkey).
The missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction is not part of any ecclesiastical province. It is under the direction of the
Congregation for the Oriental Churches, an unusual structure for a Latin see, and directly dependent on the
Holy See.
Its
cathedral seat is the Marian Cathedral of the Annunciation in
Ä°skenderun (Alexandria). It has the
Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua in
Mersin
Mersin (), also known as İçel, is a large city and a port on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. It is the provincial capital of Mersin Province, Mersin (İçel) Province. It is made up of four municipalities and dis ...
as well.
History
* Established originally on 13 March 1845 as the
Apostolic Prefecture of
Trabzon, named for its location on the Black Sea, not for any preceding jurisdiction.
* Suppressed on 12 September 1896, with its territory merged into the
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir in western Anatolia.
* Restored on 20 June 1931 as the Mission sui iuris of Trabzon, its territory taken from the
Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinopole.
* Promoted on 30 November 1990 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia,
[ led by a titular bishop.
As of 2020, the vicariate, which covers 450k square kilometers, had six parishes and two missions to serve a thousand Turkish Christians as well as Christian refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
]
Ordinaries
;Apostolic Prefects of Trabzon (Independent Mission)
* Damiano da Viareggio, O.F.M. Cap.
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (; postnominal abbr. O.F.M. Cap.) is a religious order of Franciscan friars within the Catholic Church, one of Three " First Orders" that reformed from the Franciscan Friars Minor Observant (OFM Obs., now OFM) ...
(1845 – 1852)
* Filippo Maria da Bologna, O.F.M. Cap. (1852 – 1881)
* Eugenio da Modica, O.F.M. Cap. (1881 – 12 September 1896)
; Ecclesiastical Superiors of Trabzon
* Michele da Capodistria, O.F.M. Cap. (20 June 1931 – 9 March 1933)
* Giovanni Giannetti da Fivizzano, O.F.M. Cap. (9 March 1933 – 1955)
* Prospero Germini da Ospitaletto, O.F.M. Cap. (1955 – 1961)
* Michele Salardi da Novellara, O.F.M. Cap. (1961 – 1966)
* Giuseppe Germano Bernardini, O.F.M. Cap. (19 December 1966 – 30 November 1990)
** When Bernardini became archbishop of Izmir in 1983, he continued here as apostolic administrator.
;Apostolic Vicars of Anatolia
** Bernardini continued as apostolic administrator when the vicariate was erected on 30 November 1990[
* Luigi Padovese, O.F.M. Cap. (11 October 2004]
See also
* Catholic Church in Turkey
* Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul (Constantinople)
* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Izmir
References
Sources and external links
GCatholic.org with incumbent bio links
Roman Catholic dioceses in Turkey
Religious organizations established in 1845
Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 19th century
Hatay Province
Ä°skenderun
1845 establishments in the Ottoman Empire
{{Asia-RC-diocese-stub