CORFU, ZANTE and CEPHALONIA, DIOCESES OF. According to tradition, the Gospel was preached by Jason, a disciple of the Apostle Paul (Acts 17:5-9; Rom 16:21), in Corfu, which was the seat of an ancient bishopric, elevated to a metropolitan see in 1310, and which had among its pastors Marc'Antonio Barbarigo (q.v.) and the learned Angelo Maria Querini, later a cardinal. Among the sacred monuments of the Byzantine period are to be noted the church of SS. Jason and Sosipater of the 12th century, that of St. Corcyra and of St. Spyridon, martyred under Diocletian and present at the Council of Nicaea.
The dioceses of Zante and Cephalonia, also of ancient origin (4th century), were reconstituted as Latin bishoprics in the 13th century and in 1222 were united by Honorius III.
Since 3 June 1919, these last two were in turn united with that of Corfu, giving rise to the united dioceses of Corfu, Zante and Cephalonia. There are 3,500 faithful, 4 parishes and 7 priests.