Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi

Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi

*Planensis Albanensium*

Eparchia di Piana degli Albanesi
Eparhia e Horës së Arbëreshëvet
Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi; Planensis Albanensium; Eparchia di Piana degli Albanesi; Eparhia e Horës së Arbëreshëvet
	Coat of arms
Location
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical province	Immediately Subject to the Holy See
Statistics
Population Total; Catholics;	(as of 2023); 24,500 (est.) ; 23,400 (est.) ;
Parishes	16
Information
Denomination	Italo-Albanian Catholic Church
Rite	Byzantine Rite
Established	26 October 1937
Cathedral	Cathedral of St Demetrius the Martyr (Piana degli Albanesi)
Co-cathedral	St. Mary of the Admiral (Palermo)
Patron saint	Demetrius
Secular priests	21 (diocesan) ; 2 (Religious Orders)
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Raffaele De Angelis
Map
Website
	eparchiapiana.org

The Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi (Arbëreshë Albanian: Eparhia e Horës së Arbëreshëvet; Italian: Eparchia di Piana degli Albanesi) is an eparchy (diocese) of the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church,^[2] an Eastern Catholic church sui iuris of Byzantine Rite, covering the island of Sicily in Italy.

The Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicolas "dei Greci" to Martorana in Palermo.

Episcope and annexed Eparchial Seminary, heir to the destroyed Arbëreshë Seminary of Palermo (1734).

History

There was already a church established by Albanian refugees in Sicily at Palermo by 1547. The seminary for the education of Greek-rite clergy was founded, principally through the work of the Oratorian priest, George Guzzetta, a native of Piana,^[3] opened in 1734. The rector of the seminary became the ordaining bishop for the Greek-rite in Sicily.^[4]

On 6 February 1784, was established the Ordinariate of Silicia, the first jurisdiction with on ordinary for this particular church sui iuris, and appointed to it the first titular bishop of the Byzantine Rite for the Albanians of Sicily: Giorgio Stassi, Titular Bishop of Lampsacus. Before, the Albanians faithful and their Orthodox priests they had no right and were at risk in assimilation in the Roman rite.^{[citation needed]}

On 26 October 1937, the Eparchy of Piana dei Greci was created,^[5] by promoting the Ordinariate of Silicia and transferring to it territories from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palermo and Metropolitan Archdiocese of Monreale (both on Sicily).^{[citation needed]} The new eparchy was to be directly subject to the Holy See, and under the supervision of the Sacred Congregation for the Eastern Churches.^[6]

On 25 October 1941, the Eparchy (Diocese) of Piana dei Greci was renamed the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi (Eparkia or Eparhia e Horës së Arbëreshëvet).^[7]

Territory

The Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi includes the comunes in province of Palermo: Contessa Entellina, Mezzojuso, Palazzo Adriano, Piana degli Albanesi and Santa Cristina Gela.^{[citation needed]}

The seat of the eparchy is in the town of Piana degli Albanesi. The principal church of the town was designated by Pope Pius XI to be the Cathedral of Saint Demetrius the Martyr.^[8] In the same document, the pope designated the Church of S. Maria della Martorana (Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio) in Palermo as a co-cathedral of the eparchy of Piana.^[9]

The territory is divided into 15 parishes.^[1] Several Latin-rite parishes within the territorial boundaries of Piana presented a difficulty; when a pastoral vacancy occurred, the archbishop of Monreale was to nominate three qualified candidates, from whom the bishop of Piana Graecorum was to choose one.^[10]

The Seminary for Italo-Epirotes in Palermo was re-designated the Seminary of the Eparchy of Piana Graecorum, though dioceses which sent students there should continue to do so.^[11]

Ordinaries of Italia continentale of the Italo-Albanese Catholic Church

Giorgio Stassi (25 June 1784 – 26 March 1802)^[12]
Giuseppe Guzzetta (March 29 1802 – 1813)^[12]
Francesco Chiarchiaro (23 September 1813 – 1834)^[12]
Giuseppe Crispi (20 December 1835 – 1859)^[12]
Agostino Franco (1860 – 1877)^[13]
Giuseppe Masi (29 January 1878 – 11 April 1903)^[14]
Paolo Schirò (5 February 1904 – 12 September 1941)^[15]

Bishops of the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church, selected from Albanians native to Sicily:^[16]

Agostino Franco (1858–1859) from Mezzojuso^[17]
Giuseppe Schirò (30 July 1889 – 29 November 1896) from Contessa Entellina^[18]
Giovanni Barcia (24 April 1902 – 1912) from Palazzo Adriano^[19]

Bishops of Piana degli Albanesi

○ Cardinal Luigi Lavitrano, Archbishop of Palermo, Apostolic Administrator (26 October 1937 – 20 December 1946)

Giuseppe Perniciaro (26 October 1937 – 12 July 1967) Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General, Titular Bishop of Arbanum

○ Cardinal Ernesto Ruffini, Archbishop of Palermo, Apostolic Administrator (3 January 1947 – 11 June 1967)

Giuseppe Perniciaro (12 July 1967 – 31 May 1981 resigned)^[20]
Ercole Lupinacci † (25 March 1981 – 30 November 1987 appointed Italo-Albanese Eparchy of Lungro)
Sotir Ferrara † (15 October 1988 – 8 April 2013 retired)
- Cardinal Paolo Romeo, Apostolic Administrator (8 April 2013 – 31 March 2015)
Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro (31 March 2015 – 25 February 2020)^[21]
- Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro (25 February 2020 – 19 June 2023), Titular Archbishop of Trecale, Apostolic Administrator
- Cardinal Francesco Montenegro (19 June 2023 – 30 August 2025), Archbishop emeritus of Agrigento, Apostolic Administrator
Raffaele De Angelis (since 30 August 2025)

References

1 2 3 Roberson, Ronald G. "The Eastern Catholic Churches 2010" (PDF). Eastern Catholic Churches Statistics. Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
↑ Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: The Italo-Albanian Catholic Church
↑ Giovanni d'Angelo, Vita del servo di Dio P. Giorgio Guzzetta, (in Italian) (Palermo: Pietro Solli 1798).
↑ Fortescue, pp. 124, 164-165.
↑ Pope Pius XI, "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, in: Acta Apostolica Sedis vol. 30 (1938), pp. 213-216.
↑ Pius XI, "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, in Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 30 (1938), p. 214: novam in Sicilia erigimus et constituimus byzantini ritus dioecesim seu eparchiam, Nobis et Sedi Apostolicae immediate subiectam."
↑ "Diocese of Piana degli Abanesi". GCatholic.org. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
↑ Pius XI, "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, in Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 30 (1938), p. 215, VII: "Huius autem dioecesis byzantini ritus sedem et episcopalem cathedram in Planensi Graecorum urbe statuimus in Ecclesia matre S. Demetrii Martyris; quam proinde ad cathedralis ecclesiae gradum et dignitatem evehimus et extollimus, cum omnibus iuribus et privilegiis, oneribus et obligationibus eidem iure communi adnexis."
↑ "Cum autem Panormi, uti omnes norunt, communitas exstet christifidelium ritus byzantini satis frequens et illic Seminarium florescat pro Italis-Epirotis, venerabili Fratri Nostro Aloisio S. R. E. Cardinali Lavitrano, Archiepiscopo Panormitano, committimus ut vetustam ipse et magnificam Ecclesiam, vulgo delia Martorana nuncupatam, ad sacra ritus byzantini peragenda destinet, eamque Nos concathedralis titulo et dignitate constituimus."
↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 30 (1938), p. 215, VIII: "Decernimus denique ut, vacantibus latini ritus paroeciis in civitate Planensi Graecorum, ius sit venerabili Fratri Archiepiscopo Montis Regalis tria sacerdotum scientia ac pietate probatorum nomina Ordinario Eparchiae Planensis Graecorum praesentandi, ea lege ut Ordinarius ipse inter illa eligere parochum teneatur."
↑ "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, p. 215: "Seminarium Panormitanum pro Italis-Epirotis posthac erit eparchiae Planensis Graecorum Seminarium, cui propterea archidioeceses Panormitana et Montis Regalis atque ceterae dioeceses in Sicilia exstantes quidquid hucusque contulerunt etiam in posterum conferre debent."
1 2 3 4 Titular Bishop of Diocese of Lampsaco (Lampsacus).
↑ already ordinating for the Albanians of Calabria, titular bishop of Ermopoli Maggiore (Hermopolis Major).
↑ Titular Bishop of Tempe (Tempe).
↑ Titular Bishop of Benda. Acta Sanctae Sedis 37 (1904), p. 319: "Ecclesiam titularem Episcopalem Beuden [Bendem], pro R. D. Paolo Schirò, ritus graeci, archidioeceseos Montis Regalis, deputato in Episcopum Ordinantem Iialo-Graecorum Siciliae."
↑ Alberto Elli, a Brief history of the eastern catholic Churches (II.).
↑ Titular Bishop of Ermopoli Maggiore.
↑ Titular Archbishop of Neocesarea del Ponto (Neocaesarea in Ponto).
↑ Titular Bishop of Diocese of Croia (Croae).
↑ Perniciaro was a native of Mezzojuso (Archdiocese of Monreale). He was appointed titular bishop of Arbanum (Albania) on 26 October 1937, by Pope Pius XI, and named auxiliary bishop of Piana dei Greci. He was promoted Bishop of Piana by Pope Paul VI on 12 July 1967, following the death of Cardinal Ruffini. Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 59 (1967), p. 1013. He resigned on 31 May 1981, and died on 5 June 1981. Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 73 (1981), p. 472.
↑ Gallaro was a antive of Pozzallo (Diocese of Noto, Italy). He was a priest of Los Angeles CA (1972–1987), and was transferred to the Melkite Eparchy of Newton (Mass. USA) in September 1987. On 31 March 2015, he was appointed bishop of Piana by Pope Francis. He was made a consultor of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and on 4 February 2020, Pope Francis appointed him secretary of that Congregation. On 25 February 2020, Pope Francis appointed him secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and concurrently Titular Archbishop of Tricala. On 28 April, as Archbishop of Tricala, he was appointed to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, for a five-year term. In 2023, having passed the age of 75, he relinquished his functions. Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 107 (2015), p. 1078; vol. 112 (2020), pp. 345, 349, 779: "4 febbraio 2020 L’Ecc.mo Mons. Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro, col titolo personale di Arcivescovo, finora Vescovo dell’Eparchia di Piana degli Albanesi di Sicilia e Consultore della Congregazione per le Chiese Orientali, Segretario della medesima Congregazione per le Chiese Orientali." "die 25 Februarii. — Titulari Episcopali Ecclesiae Trecalitanae Exc.mum P.D. Georgium Demetrium Gallaro, Congregationis pro Ecclesiis Orientalibus Secretarium, cum archiepiscopali dignitate.

Sources

Elli, Alberto (2017). Breve storia delle chiese orientali. (in Italian). 2nd ed. Milano: Edizione Terra Santa, 2017.
Fortescue, Adrian (1923). The Uniate Eastern Churches. The Byzantine rite in Italy, Sicily, Syria and Egypt. London: B. Oates & Washburne 1923. pp. 164-168.

External links

37°59′46″N 13°17′07″E / 37.9962°N 13.2853°E / 37.9962; 13.2853

[eccs-1] 1 2 3 Roberson, Ronald G. "The Eastern Catholic Churches 2010" (PDF). Eastern Catholic Churches Statistics. Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.

[2] Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: The Italo-Albanian Catholic Church

[3] Giovanni d'Angelo, Vita del servo di Dio P. Giorgio Guzzetta, (in Italian) (Palermo: Pietro Solli 1798).

[4] Fortescue, pp. 124, 164-165.

[5] Pope Pius XI, "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, in: Acta Apostolica Sedis vol. 30 (1938), pp. 213-216.

[6] Pius XI, "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, in Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 30 (1938), p. 214: novam in Sicilia erigimus et constituimus byzantini ritus dioecesim seu eparchiam, Nobis et Sedi Apostolicae immediate subiectam."

[Hora-7] "Diocese of Piana degli Abanesi". GCatholic.org. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

[8] Pius XI, "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, in Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 30 (1938), p. 215, VII: "Huius autem dioecesis byzantini ritus sedem et episcopalem cathedram in Planensi Graecorum urbe statuimus in Ecclesia matre S. Demetrii Martyris; quam proinde ad cathedralis ecclesiae gradum et dignitatem evehimus et extollimus, cum omnibus iuribus et privilegiis, oneribus et obligationibus eidem iure communi adnexis."

[9] "Cum autem Panormi, uti omnes norunt, communitas exstet christifidelium ritus byzantini satis frequens et illic Seminarium florescat pro Italis-Epirotis, venerabili Fratri Nostro Aloisio S. R. E. Cardinali Lavitrano, Archiepiscopo Panormitano, committimus ut vetustam ipse et magnificam Ecclesiam, vulgo delia Martorana nuncupatam, ad sacra ritus byzantini peragenda destinet, eamque Nos concathedralis titulo et dignitate constituimus."

[10] Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 30 (1938), p. 215, VIII: "Decernimus denique ut, vacantibus latini ritus paroeciis in civitate Planensi Graecorum, ius sit venerabili Fratri Archiepiscopo Montis Regalis tria sacerdotum scientia ac pietate probatorum nomina Ordinario Eparchiae Planensis Graecorum praesentandi, ea lege ut Ordinarius ipse inter illa eligere parochum teneatur."

[11] "Apostolica Sedes", 26 October 1937, p. 215: "Seminarium Panormitanum pro Italis-Epirotis posthac erit eparchiae Planensis Graecorum Seminarium, cui propterea archidioeceses Panormitana et Montis Regalis atque ceterae dioeceses in Sicilia exstantes quidquid hucusque contulerunt etiam in posterum conferre debent."

[Lamp-12] 1 2 3 4 Titular Bishop of Diocese of Lampsaco (Lampsacus).

[13] ready ordinating for the Albanians of Calabria, titular bishop of Ermopoli Maggiore (Hermopolis Major).

[14] Titular Bishop of Tempe (Tempe).

[15] Titular Bishop of Benda. Acta Sanctae Sedis 37 (1904), p. 319: "Ecclesiam titularem Episcopalem Beuden [Bendem], pro R. D. Paolo Schirò, ritus graeci, archidioeceseos Montis Regalis, deputato in Episcopum Ordinantem Iialo-Graecorum Siciliae."

[16] Alberto Elli, a Brief history of the eastern catholic Churches (II.).

[17] Titular Bishop of Ermopoli Maggiore.

[18] Titular Archbishop of Neocesarea del Ponto (Neocaesarea in Ponto).

[19] Titular Bishop of Diocese of Croia (Croae).

[20] Perniciaro was a native of Mezzojuso (Archdiocese of Monreale). He was appointed titular bishop of Arbanum (Albania) on 26 October 1937, by Pope Pius XI, and named auxiliary bishop of Piana dei Greci. He was promoted Bishop of Piana by Pope Paul VI on 12 July 1967, following the death of Cardinal Ruffini. Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 59 (1967), p. 1013. He resigned on 31 May 1981, and died on 5 June 1981. Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 73 (1981), p. 472.

[21] Gallaro was a antive of Pozzallo (Diocese of Noto, Italy). He was a priest of Los Angeles CA (1972–1987), and was transferred to the Melkite Eparchy of Newton (Mass. USA) in September 1987. On 31 March 2015, he was appointed bishop of Piana by Pope Francis. He was made a consultor of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and on 4 February 2020, Pope Francis appointed him secretary of that Congregation. On 25 February 2020, Pope Francis appointed him secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and concurrently Titular Archbishop of Tricala. On 28 April, as Archbishop of Tricala, he was appointed to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, for a five-year term. In 2023, having passed the age of 75, he relinquished his functions. Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 107 (2015), p. 1078; vol. 112 (2020), pp. 345, 349, 779: "4 febbraio 2020 L’Ecc.mo Mons. Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro, col titolo personale di Arcivescovo, finora Vescovo dell’Eparchia di Piana degli Albanesi di Sicilia e Consultore della Congregazione per le Chiese Orientali, Segretario della medesima Congregazione per le Chiese Orientali." "die 25 Februarii. — Titulari Episcopali Ecclesiae Trecalitanae Exc.mum P.D. Georgium Demetrium Gallaro, Congregationis pro Ecclesiis Orientalibus Secretarium, cum archiepiscopali dignitate.

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