Antarado

ANTARADO. - A city on the northern Phoenician coast opposite Aradus (v.), of which it was the ancient colony; today it is Tartus with 3,500 inhabitants. Rebuilt by the emperor Constantius under the name "Constantia" (346), in the Middle Ages it was called Tortosa, famous for its Marian sanctuary, a center of pilgrimages from the whole Latin East. It was the last stronghold of the crusaders in Syria and was stormed by Aramed-Din after a heroic defense by the Templars (Aug. 3, 1291). The magnificent basilica became a mosque at the end of the 19th century.

It was an episcopal see, united with Aradus in the 4th century, separated in the middle of the 5th century. Its known bishops are: Cymatius (praised by St. Athanasius for his orthodoxy), Alexander (at the Council of Chalcedon, 451), who is the first bishop clearly distinct from that of Aradus, Theodorus (518). A. had at least 6 Latin bishops in the 13th century, of whom the last was (from 1274 to 1295[?]) Bartholomew, who took a very active, not always praiseworthy, part in the political events of his time. Around 1295 the see of A., or Tortosa, was united with Famagusta in Cyprus. Today it is a titular see.