CORFÙ, ZANTE and CEFALONIA, DIOCESE of. - According to tradition, the Gospel was preached by Jason, a disciple of the apostle Paul (Act. 17, 5-9; Rom. 16, 21), in Corfù, which was the seat of an ancient bishopric, raised to metropolitan status in 1310, and which BARBARI (v.) and the learned Angelo Maria Querini, later cardinal. Among the sacred monuments of the Byzantine period should be mentioned the church of SS. Giasone and Sosipatro of the 12th century, that of S. Corcira, and that of S. Spiridione, martyred under Diocletian and present at the Council of Nicaea.
The dioceses of Zante and Cefalonia, likewise of ancient origin (4th century), were re-established as Latin bishoprics in the 13th century and united in 1222 by Honorius III.
From 3 June 1919, these latter two were in turn united with that of Corfù, giving rise to the united dioceses of Corfù, Zante and Cefalonia. They contain 3,500 faithful, 4 parishes, and 7 priests.