ORIHUELA, Diocese of. - City and diocese of the civil province of Alicante, in Spain.
It extends over 3,200 sq km, with 445,000 inhabitants, of whom 444,000 are Catholics distributed among 81 parishes. It has 176 diocesan priests and 55 regulars, a seminary, 14 male religious communities and 50 female ones (Ann. Pont., 1952, p. 302).
The oral tradition that it was founded by Bishop Indalecio in the 1st century rests on no authoritative document, nor can it be demonstrated that it was governed in the 3rd century by a bishop named Eulogian. If this diocese is earlier than the Middle Ages, it was certainly destroyed by the Saracens, who dominated Spain from the 8th century onward, from whom this region was liberated through the work of King James I of Aragon in the 13th century. The principal church of O. received the title of collegiate church from the antipope Benedict XIII, confirmed in 1418 by Martin V. Its erection into a cathedral was desired in 1440, but given the difficulties it was granted only the privilege of a general vicariate. Julius II in 1513 wished it to be a cathedral but "sub uno pastore" with the diocese of Cartagena. Finally in 1564 the episcopal see was erected. By order of Pius IV three cardinals were appointed, who were to inquire, after hearing the interested parties, into the advisability of separating the church of O. from that of Cartagena. On 14 July of that same year the bull was published, thus yielding to the requests of King Philip II, who presented as first bishop the maestro Gregorio Gallo of Burgos. The Cathedral, dedicated to the Most Holy Savior and to the Virgin Mary Assumed, presents a combination of Gothic and Neoclassical style; the Castilian and Valencian schools took part in its construction: the former is distinguished in the naves, the latter in the chapels. Also notable is the collegiate church of Alicante built by King Alfonso the Wise, son of St. Ferdinand, rebuilt in the 17th century. The diocese has as its patron St. Vincent Ferrer.
