Osor is a village and a small port on the

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

n island of

Cres Cres is an Adriatic island in Croatia. It is one of the northern islands in the Kvarner Gulf and can be reached via ferry from Rijeka, Krk island or from the Istrian peninsula (line Brestova-Porozina). With an area of , Cres has the same si ...

, in

Primorje-Gorski Kotar Primorje – Gorski Kotar County (, ) is a county in western Croatia, most of it based in the historical and cultural region called Croatia proper and some of it in Istria, including the Bay of Kvarner, the surrounding Northern Croatian Littora ...

county. Administratively, it is part of the town of

Mali Lošinj Mali Lošinj is a town in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, on the island of Lošinj, in western Croatia. At the time of the 2021 census, there were 7,537 inhabitants, of whom 86% were Croats. The town of Mali Lošinj itself had an urban populat ...

. As of 2021, it had a population of 26. Osor lies at a narrow

channel Channel, channels, channeling, etc., may refer to: Geography * Channel (geography), a landform consisting of the outline (banks) of the path of a narrow body of water. Australia * Channel Country, region of outback Australia in Queensland and pa ...

that separates the

island An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...

s of Cres and

Lošinj Lošinj (; ; , earlier ''Osero''; ; ; ) is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The settlements on Lošinj include Nerez ...

. The channel was built in Roman times to make sailing possible. Now the islands are connected with a rotating bridge. Originally, Cres and Lošinj were one island, Osor, before the channel was cut.

History

The first settlements of the area date in the prehistoric times. In Roman times, Osor, then called Apsoros (), also used to refer to the whole island of

, was an important center of trade on the route to the ports of Northern

Adriatic The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...

. After the fall of

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...

, Osor became a part of

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

and was a seat of

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...

since the 6th century. In 840 it was burned down by

Saracens file:Erhard Reuwich Sarazenen 1486.png, upright 1.5, Late 15th-century History of Germany, German woodcut depicting Saracens ''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek language, Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to ...

, in the 10th century, it came under Croatian rule. In the 14th century it was under the rule of the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

. From the 15th century on, Osor lost its strategic and commercial importance. Due to

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

, it was ultimately abandoned as the administrative center of the island in favor of the town of

. In the 19th century the island was under the rule of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

and after

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

part of the

Kingdom of Italy The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...

. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Osor-Ossero was a part of the Republic of Yugoslavia. Today, Osor is a tourist-oriented town in Croatia, with sculptures of

Ivan Meštrović Ivan Meštrović (; 15 August 1883 – 16 January 1962) was a Croatian and Yugoslav sculptor, architect, and writer. He was the most prominent modern Croatian sculptor and a leading artistic personality in contemporary Zagreb. He studied at Pa ...

and others scattered around the center. Several camping sites are located in the surroundings.

Ecclesiastical history

Residential bishopric

The

bishopric In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

of what was called in

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

Absorus was founded circa 600, maybe as early as the 6th century, as a

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Catholic Church, a suffragan bishop leads a diocese within an ecclesiastical province other than the principal diocese, the metropolitan archdiocese; the diocese led ...

of the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Late

Roman province The Roman provinces (, pl. ) were the administrative regions of Ancient Rome outside Roman Italy that were controlled by the Romans under the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire. Each province was ruled by a Roman appointed as Roman g ...

Dalmatia Inferior's capital

Salona Salona (, ) was an ancient city and the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and near to Split, in Croatia. It was one of the largest cities of the late Roman empire with 60,000 inhabitants. It was the last residence of the final western ...

(later of

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enter ...

), but the first bishop of the see whose name is known was Dominicus in the last third of the 9th century. It has also been called Absor and Lusin. The diocese was from 1146 a

of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Zadar/Zara. Its cathedral, the Church of the Assumption, was built from 1463 until 1497. The area was taken by the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

in 1621 and held for a short time, during which its Christians travelled to

Šibenik Šibenik (), historically known as Sebenico (), is a historic town in Croatia, located in central Dalmatia, where the river Krka (Croatia), Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. Šibenik is one of the oldest Croatia, Croatian self-governing cities ...

to fulfil their Easter duty of Confession and Communion. Absorus ceased in 1828 to be a residential see, when its territory was added to that of the Croatian

diocese of Krk The Diocese of Krk (; ) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church active on the Croatian islands of Krk, Rab, Cres and Lošinj, as well as a few smaller ones and also a mission serving the Croatian people of New ...

. ;''Suffragan Bishops of Osor'' (all

Roman Rite The Roman Rite () is the most common ritual family for performing the ecclesiastical services of the Latin Church, the largest of the ''sui iuris'' particular churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The Roman Rite governs Rite (Christianity) ...

; ''very incomplete : first centuries unavailable) * ... * Lovro (1042? – 1059), later Metropolitan Archbishop of

(Croatia) (1059 – 1099) * Michele,

Friars Minor The Order of Friars Minor (commonly called the Franciscans, the Franciscan Order, or the Seraphic Order; postnominal abbreviation OFM) is a mendicant Catholic religious order, founded in 1209 by Francis of Assisi. The order adheres to the t ...

(O.F.M.) (1290? – ?) * Giacomo (? – ?) * Angelo, O.F.M. (2 October 1295 – 1300?) * Bonifacio (1315? – ?) * Guglielmo (1325? – ?) * Cipriano (1335? – death 1337?) * Crisogono (6 January 1343 – ?) * Martino (8 March 1346 – ?) * Matteo Cernota (29 October 1347 – 19 July 1357), later Bishop of

(Croatia) (1357.07.19 – ?) * Bonifacio (19 July 1357 – ?), previously Bishop of

Trebinje Trebinje ( sr-Cyrl, Требиње, ) is a city and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the southernmost city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is situated on the banks of the Trebišnjica river in the region of East Her ...

(Bosnia and Herzegovina) (? – 6 February 1344), Bishop of

(Croatia) (6 February 1344 – 19 July 1357) * Michele da Zara, O.F.M. (17 June 1374 – ?) * Tommaso (? – ?) * Pactius (1390? – ?) * Mauro Rassoli (17 May 1399 – death 1410?) * Isidoro,

Benedictine Order The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly Christian mysticism, contemplative Christian monasticism, monastic Religious order (Catholic), order of the Catholic Church for men and f ...

(O.S.B.) (19 November 1410 – 1411) * Vito da Cherso, O.F.M. (24 October 1412 – ?) * Pietro Leon (6 February 1436 – 4 June 1445), later Bishop of Ceneda (Italy) (4 June 1445 – 1474) * Simone de Valle (9 June 1445 – ?), was an auditor in the case of John Myssenden Vicar of Leatherhead against the Priory of Leeds near Maidstone in 1446. The Register of Letters to England, Scotland and Ireland reports the case * Domenico (28 July 1449 – ?) * Antonio di Pago (12 January 1451 – 29 March 1471), later Bishop of

Kotor Kotor (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian language, Italian: ), is a town in Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has ...

(Montenegro) (29 March 1471 – ?) * Marco Negro (29 March 1471 – death 20 July 1485), previously Bishop of

(Montenegro) (7 November 1459 – 29 March 1471) * Giovanni Robobello (5 November 1485 – 6 January 1491), later Bishop of

Feltre Feltre (; ) is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about from its junction with the Piave, and southwest from Bell ...

(Italy) (6 January 1491 – 19 December 1494), Metropolitan Archbishop of Zadar (Zara) (Croatia) (19 December 1494 – 1503) * Giovanni Giusto (6 January 1491 – ?) * Andrea Corner (6 November 1512 – death 1514) * Giovanni Battista Garzoni (1514 – death 1516) * Andrea Peveraro (24 July 1517 – death 1527) * Antonio de Cappo (26 December 1527 – death 1553) * Marco Fedeli-Gonzaga (1553 – 1 December 1574), succeeding as former

Coadjutor Bishop A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) ("co-assister" in Latin) is a bishop in the Latin Catholic, Anglican and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in administering the diocese. The coa ...

of Osor (? – 1553); later Bishop of Mantova (Mantua)) (Italy) (1 December 1574 – death 29 September 1583) * Coriolano Garzadoro (19 January 1575 – 1614) * Ottaviano Garzadoro (17 March 1614 – death 1633) * Marc'Antonio Verità (18 July 1633 – death 15 October 1650) *

Giovanni de Rossi Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...

(10 November 1653 – death 1667), previously Bishop of Kefalonia–Zakynthos (insular Greece; 3 December 1640 – 10 July 1645), Bishop of Chiron (10 July 1645 – 10 November 1653) * Matteo Scrivanelli (3 August 1667 – death December 1672) * Simone Gaudenti (30 January 1673 – death September 1719) * Nicolò Drasich (16 September 1720 – death December 1737) * Giovanni Ferro (19 December 1738 – death 27 May 1742) * Mate Karaman (9 July 1742 – 22 November 1745), later Metropolitan Archbishop of Zadar (Zara) (Croatia) (22 November 1745 – death 7 May 1771) * Niccolò Dinarico (Dinarić) (22 November 1745 – 3 January 1757), later Metropolitan Archbishop of

(Croatia) (3 January 1757 – 1764) * Bonaventura Bernardi (3 January 1757 – death 21 February 1781) * Simone Spalatin (25 June 1781 – death 10 February 1798), previously Bishop of Korcula (13 March 1775 – 25 June 1781) * Francesco Pietro Raccamarich (20 July 1801 – 21 January 1815), previously Bishop of

(Montenegro) (27 June 1796 – death 20 July 1801)

Titular see

It is today listed by the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

as a ''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ), p. 947 since 1933, when the diocese was nominally restored as a

titular bishopric A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular metropolitan" (highest rank), "titular archbish ...

Osor, also named Absorus in Latin and Ossore in Curiate Italian. It has had the following incumbents of the fitting episcopal (lowest) rank : * Titular Bishop Karl Moser (9 July 1969 – 29 September 1991), as

Auxiliary Bishop An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops can also be titular bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions. ...

of Wien (Vienna) (Austria) (9 July 1969 – 29 June 1991) * Titular Bishop Peter Henrici (4 March 1993 – ...),

Jesuits The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

(S.J.), Auxiliary Bishop emeritus of

Chur '' Chur (locally) or ; ; ; ; ; ; or ; , and . is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, town of the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of the Grisons and lies in the Alpine Rhine, Grisonian Rhine Valley, where ...

(Switzerland)

References

Sources and external links

{{Commons category, Osor, Croatia
GCatholic with incumbent bio links
Populated places in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Seaside resorts in Croatia Former Roman Catholic dioceses in Croatia Cres Illyrian Croatia