Chronology of Catholic Dioceses:Notes on the (Arch)diocese of Messina

In the Annuario Pontificio, the 5th Century is indicated as the time of the foundation of Messina. A more probable time is slightly later (even according to the Messina website): 500-520. But locally, the church likes to consider the visit of St. Paul (year 41 / 42) as the true beginnings of the Diocese.

According to the legend, Christianity was brought hither by Saints Peter and Paul, and there is still preserved at Messina a letter attributed to the Blessed Virgin, which, it is claimed, was written by her to the Messenians when Our Lady heard of their conversion by St. Paul. St. Bachiritis or Bacchilus is venerated as the first Bishop of Messina. There is record of several bishops of Messene in the fourth and fifth centuries, but it is not known whether it be Messina, or Messene in Greece, to which reference is made. Eucarpus, a contemporary of Pope Symmachus (498), is the first Bishop of Messina of known date.

Nothing is known of the episcopal see during the time of the Saracen occupation. There is every reason to assume that Messina was abandoned as a diocese during the occupation of the Saracenes (831-1061).

When the Saracene occupation was over, the diocese of Troina was erected in this area (1061). It is probably correct to consider this the heir of the long defunct diocese of Messina. But later, in 1090, the see was moved back to Messina, and the cathedral was built.

Under Bishop Nicholas (1166), Messina was made an archbishopric.

In 1883, the Diocese of the Archimandritate of Santissimo Salvatore was united "aeque principaliter" to Messina.

In 1986, the Dioceses of Lipari and Santa Lucia del Mela were united to Messina.

(Sources: Research of Giulio Longo,
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10216a.htm
Website of Rai Uno
Website of the Archdiocese of Messina

-CT