Chronology of Catholic Dioceses:Notes on the diocese of Marsi (9th century)

The diocese of Marsi was not erected as a territorial denomination, but as an ethnic one. Later, it became a territorial diocese. Its see was in Santa Savina, in 1580 in Pescina, from the beginning of 20th cent. in Avezzano.

The Marsi were a warlike people who lived about Lake Fucino. In 325 B.C. they allied themselves with the Romans, revolted in 309 in favour of the Samnites, but in 304 returned to the Roman alliance. The chief divinity of the Marsi was the goddess Angitia. In the time of the Lombards the territory formed a county subject to the Duchy of Spoleto, and the counts gave several popes to the Church -- among them Innocent III. According to legend, the Gospel was preached to the Marsi in Apostolic times by Saint Mark, and Saint Rufinus, their bishop, was martyred about 240. The episcopal see was originally at Santa Savina, but, as this place was isolated and therefore insecure, Gregory XIII permitted, in 1580, the removal of the bishop's residence to Pescina, where the cathedral was completed in 1596.

-CT (information from CE and from Mr. Alberto Mioni)