The Italian Catholic Diocese of Mazara del Vallo (Latin: Dioecesis Mazariensis) is in far western Sicily. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Palermo.
In the struggle of the Saracens against the Normans for the possession of Sicily, Mazara was hotly contested, especially in 1075 when Roger I of Sicily emerged victorious. The episcopal see of Lilybaeum was then transferred to Mazzara.
Of the bishops of Lilybaeum the best known is Paschasinus, legate of Pope Leo I at the Council of Chalcedon (451). He had previously been invited to the Roman synod of 447 by Leo I.
In 1093 Count Roger granted the territories forming the diocese of Mazara to Bishop Stephen and his successors, with permission of Pope Urban II. The privileges were confirmed by Pope Paschal II in a bull of 15 October 1100. The first bishop of Mazara (1093) was Stefano de Ferro, a relative of Count Roger. The cathedral was then founded, and later embellished by Bishop Tustino (1157–1180).
In 1742 the town of Mazara had approximately 6000 citizens.
The Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Savior, had a Chapter composed of four dignities and eighteen Canons. The dignities are: the Cantor, the Archdeacon, the Dean, and the Treasurer. The right of appointment of the Cantor belongs to the Pope. The appointment of the other dignities and the Canons belongs to the Pope, if the vacancy occurs between January and June, and to the Bishop if the vacancy occurs between July and December.
Stephanus de Ferro (1093 – ca. 1125)
Ubertus
Tustinus (Tristanus) (by 1157 – 1180)
Benvenutus, O.Min.
Matthaeus (attested 1182, 1183)
Laurentius (attested 1188)
Ignotus (attested 1193)
Ignotus (attested 1198, 1199)
Petrus (attested 1200, 1201)
Ignotus (attested 1208)
Julianus (attested 1226)
Ignotus (attested 10 October 1239)
[Quintilius (attested 1259)]
Nicolaus, O.Cist. (18 January 1256 – 10 August 1270)
Lucas (attested 1260)
Benvenutus, O.Cist. (1270)
Guilelmus
Ioannes Fulvius (Fulcus) (1271 – 6 April 1283)
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Mazzara del Vallo". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.
