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The Catholic diocese of Sufetula was an Ancient bishopric in the city of Sufetula, on the site of modern Tunisian Sbeitla, in the Roman province of Byzacena.
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Background
Sufetula, also known as Speitla, Sbeitla and Sufetula, is an archaeological site in Tunisia with well preserved ruins from the Roman Empire. Roman era Sufetula was a civitas (town) and boarder post on the limes Africana in the Roman Province of Africa during the Roman Empire.
The town was flourishing by 79AD and lasted to 647 when the town was sacked by Arab, Berber raiders.
Ancient Bishopric
Sufetula was also the seat of an ancient Christian Bishopric. The Bishopric was founded during the Roman Empire and survived through the arian Vandal and Orthodox Byzantine empires, only ceasing to function with the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb.
Ancient churchs
Ruins of Sufetula show that the town had at least six Churchs.>
Amoung these several appear to have been cathedra. The so called Church of Servus, is believed to have been the Donatist cathedral of Sufetula, while the church of Bellator, was the Catholic and latter orthodox cathedral. The Basilica of Vitalis may have been the Arian Cathedral and dates from the 5th century. The remains at Sufetula are important as they indicate that the various sects within Christianity built and kept their own places of worship, not being taken over by successive regimes.
Known Bishops
Titular see
The diocese was nominally revived, at least in name, as a titular see of the lowest (episcopal) rank in 1914. It has had the following incumbents, mostly missionary members of congregations :